Redmond council unanimously approves two Microsoft-funded CFD amendments for accessibility and street improvements

The Redmond City Council on Sept. 17 approved two petitions by Microsoft to amend existing Community Facilities Districts (CFDs) and fund local public-infrastructure improvements.

Resolution 1590 (AM-24138) amends CFD 2014-1 to include financing for pedestrian and bicycle bridge connections to Redmond Technology Station, canopy coverage for waiting areas, shell-and-core improvements for a transit public waiting area, additional bus/van paving and accessibility features such as timetable displays with text-to-speech and tactile guidance indicators to assist people with visual impairments. Resident Yuan Meng and a Microsoft representative, Donald Marcy, both testified in favor of the changes, with Yuan Meng noting accessibility benefits for visually impaired users.

Resolution 1591 (AM-24139) amends CFD 2016-01 to add a shared-use path extension on NE 40th Street, ADA ramp upgrades, push-button crosswalk activations, adaptive traffic-signal controls along several corridors, and bike-lane and stormwater work in the Overlake neighborhood. Donald Marcy testified on behalf of Microsoft, describing the CFD as the mechanism to fund improvements that were identified following earlier infrastructure work under a 2013 three-party agreement among Microsoft, the city and Sound Transit.

Both measures passed unanimously by roll-call vote (7-0). Council members thanked Microsoft for contributing remaining CFD balances to additional community improvements and noted the projects represent public-private coordination on transit and multimodal infrastructure.