A new Bellevue: Step by step to a pedestrian-friendly downtown
Downtown Bellevue is less than one square mile.
But here's the rub: To a pedestrian, it feels much bigger. The blocks are more than twice the size of those in Seattle, cars zoom along wide streets, and intersections can seem as wide as football fields.
Many buildings are surrounded by parking lots, and much of the development is so generic and set back, pedestrians say, that a walk through one of the region's premier shopping destinations is more a chore than an inviting stroll.
But don't put away your walking shoes just yet.
The city built with cars in mind has new priorities. It's already spent millions of dollars to make downtown more pedestrian-friendly, and much more is in the works.
From tree-lined sidewalks, midblock crossings and skybridges to circulator buses and pathways between high-rises, the city has begun a transformation it hopes will redefine its auto-oriented image.
A push to create more dense, walkable communities is being played out in big cities and suburbs across the country, but Bellevue -- with its superblocks and intimidating intersections -- faces more challenges than most. Change, city officials acknowledge, will take time.
Continue reading this article from the Seattle Times:
A new Bellevue: Step by step to a pedestrian-friendly downtown
