Bellevue council OKs $88,250 contract to retime Highway 370 signals amid crosswalk concerns

The Bellevue City Council voted June 16 to authorize an agreement with Feldberg, Holt and Ullevi for re-timing traffic signals along Highway 370 from 48th Street to Arboretum Drive in an amount not to exceed $88,250. The motion passed with all voting in favor.

Council discussion focused on whether the contract would improve pedestrian crosswalk timing or require replacement of signal hardware. Councilman McCall asked whether the re-timing work "is that going to... time our crosswalk signals? We've been waiting a couple of years for the crosswalks," and raised the need to coordinate timing between 25th and 36th Street.

A staff member told the council that an active mobility plan contract will be on a future agenda and "that plan will be a huge tool for us," saying the study could offer longer-term solutions beyond the immediate timing adjustments. Councilman Price questioned durability and cost, noting that timing changes can gradually fall out of sync and that smart-signal systems can be costly to operate.

Councilmembers pressed for clarity that the $88,250 contract covered timing work and not full replacement of signal hardware; staff confirmed signal replacement and crosswalk upgrades would be separate, more extensive efforts. After the exchange the council approved the agreement to move forward with the re-timing work.

The contract is expected to allow the city to synchronize traffic signals along the corridor more effectively in the short term; the council and staff signaled a desire to pursue further, longer-term improvements through the planned active mobility study.