Redmond unveils TDM overview and Red Link on‑demand pilot as part of Go Redmond outreach

City planning staff and the nonprofit Move Redmond presented a transportation demand management (TDM) overview and updates on the new Red Link pilot service at the Redmond City Council meeting.

Carol Helen, director of planning and community development, framed TDM as a suite of tools to expand travel choices and reduce drive‑alone trips, noting the program’s role in Redmond 2050 and the recently adopted transportation master plan. Caroline Chapman, Go Redmond program manager, described outreach, neighborhood‑level campaigns, bike classes and a station access map translated for multiple languages. "We hope to expand residential outreach," Chapman said, describing a neighborhood campaign offering a free $30 ORCA card and pre/post surveys to measure impact.

Move Redmond executive director Kelly Refer outlined the nonprofit’s work with employers under Washington’s commute trip reduction (CTR) program, bike education and Open Streets events. Refer said there are 24 CTR‑affected employers and 43 CTR‑affected work sites in Redmond and emphasized partnerships with Metro, Hopelink and Sound Transit to promote walking, biking and transit.

Michael Hance, transportation planning manager, summarized Red Link, Redmond’s free on‑demand all‑electric ride service intended as a first/last mile connection to light rail. Hance said the pilot began a month ago and has carried “over a thousand” passengers in its first month, will operate through June 2027, and is funded by city TDM funds, lodging tax revenue and a Washington State Department of Transportation grant. He said staff are adding a fourth vehicle and expect delivery of an ADA‑accessible GEM vehicle from vendor Circuit Transit soon.

Councilmembers pressed staff on metrics and reliability. Hance said the vendor uses passengers per service hour as a benchmark and that the pilot is at roughly half of a suggested target of three passengers per service hour. Staff acknowledged app bugs and said Circuit is receptive to public feedback and working on virtual stops and routing improvements. Councilmembers also discussed equity and in‑language outreach; Chapman said printed station access maps and an in‑translation Chinese class are planned.

The TDM team described other programs—Community Van, Metro Flex partnerships, school pool programs and secure bike parking—and noted that about 70% of the TDM budget comes from grants. The city also manages Mobility Management Plans (MMPs) and CTR implementation for large employers. "These programs have been very successful at reducing single‑occupancy trips over time," a staff member said.

Staff said Red Link is being monitored closely and that the city will log public feedback, measure usage metrics and evaluate service area adjustments at the six‑month mark of the pilot.