Redmond planners push for low-stress bike ‘spine’ and curb-space strategy in TMP update

Redmond staff on Oct. 23 told the Planning Commission they are leaning on a low-stress, separated bicycle network and a new curb-space management chapter to meet the city’s multimodal and climate goals.

"We're aiming for 15% mode share for bicycling within our urban centers by 2035 and then citywide 5% mode share," said Michael Hintz, the city's transportation planning manager, as he outlined the bike strategy. Hintz said the plan centers development of a network “spine” of separated facilities for people of all ages and abilities and a complementary local network of lower-stress bikeways.

Francesca Liberti, transportation planner, said the TMP will add a curb-space chapter to help the city prioritize uses in the public right-of-way — ranging from on-street parking and pickup/drop-off to outdoor dining and EV charging — and to frame urban center parking management plans led by Public Works.

Why it matters: Staff presented the TMP as the technical implementation arm of Redmond 2050 for transportation: it will reassess facility and service needs, funding, demand management and active-transportation strategies and is intended to produce a substantive draft in 2025 for commission review and council adoption later that year.

Key elements staff highlighted include:

- Prioritizing a spine network of physically separated bikeways that staff defined as Level of Traffic Stress 1 to attract riders who currently avoid riding in mixed traffic; the spine will be prioritized using defined criteria and a preliminary analysis that ranks spine segments high.

- Rapid implementation strategies using interim, lower-cost materials to quickly carve space for people on bikes and narrow critical network gaps while longer-term infrastructure is funded and designed.

- Integration with transit and first–last-mile measures, including secure bike parking (bike lockers) at light-rail stations and incentives such as e-bike rebates and lending programs targeted at lower-income households.

- A curb-space management chapter that will set priorities for curb uses by land use type, support equitable parking access in urban centers, manage competing demands (delivery, goods movement, outdoor dining) and promote technology-based management strategies.

Commissioners pressed staff on safety, enforcement and outreach. Several commissioners urged that the plan address aggressive driving enforcement, school-based bike safety instruction and adult skills training. Hintz said the Safer Streets Action Plan and statewide programs (Move Ahead Washington) will be coordinated with the TMP and that staff will return answers in a follow-up matrix recommended by the commission.

What’s next: Staff said they anticipate developing chapter strategies through March–April 2025 and returning to the Planning Commission for focused review, with public engagement continuing through PBAC and other forums. The TMP will inform later parking-management work and other Redmond 2050 implementation steps.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to add specific matrix items for follow-up (enforcement, school programs, secure parking, business engagement and scooter/small-vehicle parking) and to return with cost, design and implementation details as chapters advance toward the 2025 draft.