Disqus - Latest Comments for betinafinley

Re: Friday political roundup | Conversations with Kevin Wallace and Jennifer Robertson

betinafinley — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:11:14 -0000

Thanks for the response, WR! I know my facts. The City and myself, are well aware of where Sound Transit lands on preferred alignment. As a City it is our obligation, however, to do what is best for its residents and that is to find funding for a tunnel option; and in my opinion one that is the least intrusive to our long-standing, single-family neighborhoods. The proposed C4A is not looking out for our City, but is instead suggesting we increase congestion, ignore major safety through our downtown core and disregards the integrity of surrounding neighborhoods. As a council member I will look after the best interests of Bellevue. If you would like to talk further, in a a less anonymous way, please contact me at campaign@betinafinley.com. I welcome the opportunity!

Betina Finley
Candidate for Bellevue City Council, Position 7
www.betinafinley.com

Re: The future of Bellevue development is Bel-Red corridor - Bellevue Reporter

betinafinley — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:05:29 -0000

The 900-acre Bel-Red Corridor is a unique gem for Bellevue. Although years away from future development, with the comprehensive plan in place, it is poised to become a well-thought out, progressively planned community. I see this area being prime for mixed-use, live/work spaces, well-designed smaller, more affordable housing options, a congregating of nodes of business: maybe an Eastside hub of bioscience groups who want to be near our hospital network or interactive media, gaming, and social networking companies who want to be located near each other. In addition the area will see a resurgence of open-space brought about by stream "daylighting", potential play fields, bike paths and walking trails. Also in the zoning plan is an Arts District which will spark a creative energy and potentially draw in sculpture, dance, music, architecture, animation, filmmaking etc. These would partner will with the nodes of New Economy business that I mentioned. And the icing on the cake is that it will all be accessible through light rail. The future IS Bel-Red.

Betina Finley
Candidate for Bellevue City Council, Position 7
www.betinafinley.com

Re: Friday political roundup | Conversations with Kevin Wallace and Jennifer Robertson

betinafinley — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:20:39 -0000

Josh,

Really appreciate you keeping us up-to-date on the latest in politics as it affects Bellevue! Just want to make an important clarification for readers regarding Sound Transit East Link Light Rail and the alignments under discussion. I've copied the link (below) where readers can view the potential Bellevue alignments. The two alignments being discussed by Sound Transit and the City of Bellevue are the C2T (approved by city council) and the C3/C3T (preferred alternative of Sound Transit). At this juncture, the City is working to secure a tunnel option. C2T would be a cut-and-cover tunnel and C3T would be a bored tunnel. The baseline cost between at-grade and a tunnel creates a $500 million funding gap above the $3 billion that was voter approved. If we are just talking current alignments, the City's job now is to find that additional money: Three potential ways to do that are 1) take the savings from improvements to fill some of the funding gap. 2) Seek federal funding or 3) Look for local money.

As an aside, there are also mumblings about refurbishing the current Burlington Northern tracks, that extend from Renton to Everett and using federal stimulus money to get a "rail line" that could potentially have a feeder that would connect to downtown Bellevue. Then you also have the group, Eastside Transportation Association who has filed a writ of prohibition against the State to stop Sound Transit from running East Link over I-90. They say that because the roadway was built with fuel tax dollars, it should only be used for road traffic.

With light rail an almost certain part of Bellevue's future, it's important that we give all these options as much energy and time as necessary to do it right.

http://www.soundtransit.org...

Thanks again for starting this blog and giving us a chance to comment!

Betina Finley
Candidate for Bellevue City Council, Position 7
www.betinafinley.com