Bellevue resident urges crosswalk and sidewalks on Harlan Avenue; councilors say study, grant work underway

Tanya Lukin, a Bellevue resident, told the City Council on Sept. 16 that she cannot safely walk from her Bel Air neighborhood to nearby Everett Park because there is no crosswalk at Betts Road and no continuous sidewalk on the south side of Harlan Avenue.

Lukin said she moved to Bellevue in December 2021 and walks daily. "There's no crosswalk at Betts. There's no cross signals...On my side of Harlan, on the south side, there's no sidewalk from the apartments down to Betts Road," she said. "As a grown woman, I fear for my life when I would do that."

The concern drew immediate responses from council members and city staff. Councilman Burns, who said he formerly lived in the area, called the crossing “dangerous” and urged action. Councilman Nelson Preister thanked Lukin for raising the issue and said the council and staff have raised similar concerns for years.

Jim (staff member) and Dave (staff member) described steps the city is taking. Dave said the city recently received a mobility plan grant “for trails and sidewalks within the City of Bellevue” and that the intent is to hire a consultant to evaluate sidewalks and safe crossings citywide, prioritizing areas around schools, parks and public buildings. "That's not a tomorrow solution; that's more down-the-road solution. But we are looking at this and we're going to look at it for the whole citywide as well," Dave said.

Jim discussed possible technical options for a crossing. He said the city has considered a flashing signal that would remain dark until activated by a pedestrian and would then stop traffic for a timed interval. Jim warned that a simple flashing device on a four-lane section could leave pedestrians stranded mid-crossing and said staff are leaning toward a solution that produces a complete stop across all lanes. He also said no budget was allocated for such a project this year and that timing would depend on priorities and funding.

When Lukin asked for a rough cost, Dave said a full traffic signal (stoplight) including design and construction on a wide street could run "somewhere from $250,000 to a half a million" depending on the scope. Jim added that a less costly option — adding pedestrian heads and crosswalk work at an existing signal — could be simpler if the crossing is located where signal infrastructure already exists.

Council members suggested next steps. Preister and others recommended using the new mobility plan study to evaluate the corridor from Betts Road or Fort Crook Road up to Galvin and determine the optimal location for any permanent signal or crossing. Councilman Kelson Preister (appearing as "Kelson Preacher" in the meeting transcript) also noted available grant programs, including Safe Routes to School and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, as possible funding sources.

City staff gave an estimated timeline for the study: hire a consultant under the mobility grant, complete the assessment by late 2026 or early 2027, and then use the study to support grant applications and to prioritize construction. Staff said if design and funding were available today, construction could be pursued next year but long lead times for poles, signal arms and controllers can delay work.

The council did not take any formal action at the Sept. 16 meeting. Lukin and council members were told staff will include the location in the citywide sidewalk and crossing study funded by the mobility plan grant, and that any construction will require engineering design and funding approvals.

Residents who raised safety concerns at the meeting were encouraged to follow the study process and watch for staff recommendations when the consultant’s work is complete.