Today, State Routes 522 and 527 are typical arterial “strips” within downtown Bothell, WA. Following on strategic recommendations from the Downtown Subarea Plan & Regulations prepared by FTS, SR 522’s downtown segment will be realigned (based on a previous citizen initiative) to simplify its intersection with SR 527, create new city blocks for development, and add safe pedestrian crossings. SR 527 will be restructured as a multiway boulevard to enable ground floor retail with offices and residences above to front onto pedestrian-friendly side lanes with parking and generous sidewalks. Both designs incorporate sustainable drainage and LED streetlighting as well as special landmark features and streetscape furnishings.

Before

• Peak-hour traffic congestion on SR 522 was projected to reach unacceptable levels within the decade.
• Few crosswalks and wide road width on SR 522 disconnected downtown and its riverfront.
• A strip-like SR 527 would divide downtown’s east and west sides and impede unified revitalization.

Assignment

• Develop streetscape treatments for SR 522 incorporating boulevard street trees and LED streetlighting, widened sidewalks and planter strips, and a crossroads gateway treatment at SR 522/527 intersection.
• Design SR 527 as a multiway boulevard with rain gardens in side medians, pervious paver side lanes, gateway treatments, thematic furnishings, and wide sidewalks.

Outcomes

• Plans are currently at 60% engineering completion and have been reviewed by focus groups, community workshops, City Council, and WSDOT. Construction of the SR-522 realignment project is planned for 2010-2012, with SR-527 work to follow.

In collaboration with:

Perteet Engineering (Prime Consultant), PB, Hough Beck & Baird, Horton Lees Brogden, HWA Geosciences Inc.