The Kirkland City Council considered a set of high‑priority pedestrian crossing improvements funded through the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) and approved a downtown crosswalk package while deferring one contested crossing for more study.

Staff briefed council on the TBD program status and project pipeline and presented cost updates for remaining projects. Of particular interest were two items brought forward for decision: a sidewalks/crosswalk improvement on Northeast 120th Avenue (Kingsgate/Evergreen Hill area) and a five‑crosswalk package in the Moss Bay/Lakeview downtown area.

120 Fourth Avenue (Kingsgate): staff described a sidewalk extension along the west side of 120th North toward the city limit and proposed adding a marked crosswalk at Northeast 140th Street where riders and pedestrians cross to access a shopping center and bus stops. Because the corridor carries higher speeds and volumes, a center median island and curb ramps would be required, and staff said a Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB) would be an appropriate enhancement. The project’s baseline scope came in roughly $222,000 over the original budget because of higher‑than‑expected pavement, stormwater and restoration needs; adding a marked crosswalk would add about $30,000 and an RRFB would increase the shortfall to about $340,000. Council approved the option that adds a marked crosswalk and required pedestrian infrastructure while deferring the RRFB; the motion (moved by Councilor Sweet, seconded by Councilor Falcone) approved the mark‑only option and passed 7‑0.

Downtown Lakeview/Moss Bay crosswalks: staff proposed five high‑priority downtown crossings (Lake Street at Second Avenue, Lake Street at Fifth Avenue, Lake Washington Boulevard at NE 50th, the Kirkland Performance Center crossing on Kirkland Avenue and the north leg of State Street at Second Avenue S). Staff recommended RRFBs and other upgrades at several locations but found the combined scope exceeded the TBD budget. Council opted to adopt the downtown package but to remove the Lake Washington Boulevard/NE 50th location from the funded package and ask staff to return with additional community input and feasibility alternatives for that location. The motion to adopt the four‑site downtown package without NE 50th passed 7‑0 (moved by Council member Black, seconded by Council member Falcone). Staff noted that removing the NE 50th item returned the TBD program to an expected positive contingency position.

Decisions and next steps: both votes were formal. Council directed staff to proceed with sidewalk and crosswalk construction where approved and to return with additional design and outreach on the Lake Washington Boulevard/NE 50th location. The 120 Fourth sidewalk/crosswalk work will proceed with the marked crosswalk but without the RRFB pending the additional review and potential TBD contingency use.

Ending: Staff will proceed to procurement and construction for the approved TBD projects and will return to council with feasibility alternatives and public engagement recommendations for the Lake Washington Boulevard/NE 50th crossing. The July 1 votes were 7–0 in favor of both adopted options.