Google developer SRM to install crosswalks and lights near new facility by the end of 2015, Everest kids will be able to walk a safer route to Lakeview Elementary near the new Google campus thanks to new agreement between the city of Kirkland and SRM Developers.
As part of the $1 million agreement approved at the Kirkland City Council’s Sept. 16 meeting, SRM Developers will construct two new traffic signals, as well as build a crosswalk for children walking to and from school across 6th Street South from 9th Avenue South, rather than Northeast 68th Street. SRM Developers is currently constructing the Google Complex at 6th Street South, a new 180,000-square-foot, two-story building.
As part of the construction, they are required to conform to requirements under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Several of the traffic signals and crosswalk, however, were not a part of the SEPA requirements, according to Dave Tomson, the development manager at SRM Development, but based on requests by Everest neighborhood residents who asked for a pathway for school children.
“We said to our neighbors that we’re going to be good neighbors,” Tomson said.
One of the new traffic signals will be located at the intersection of 9th Avenue South and 6th Street South. It, too, was not required by SEPA, but intended to help mitigate traffic for Everest residents, Tomson said, as the traffic study revealed Google employees would impact traffic at a different time when most Everest residents use the road.
“That was driven by the Everest neighborhood’s wishes to have a signal installed there,” he said. “It’s really hard to get onto 6th Street South from 9th.”
The traffic signal to be located at 6th Street South at Kirkland Way was required per SEPA, according to Tomson. Tomson said they do not have an exact date yet for when construction will begin, though he expects it to be started and completed within 2015.
Prior to this, the city will complete the installation of water, sewer, and partial stormwater facilities on 7th Avenue South, according to the agreement.
Meanwhile, SRM has also proposed $2.8 million public improvements along the Cross Kirkland Corridor.
The city is reviewing the construction plans. Work is scheduled to begin in November, with an anticipated completion in June 2015. To view the agreement between the city and SRM Developers, go to www.kirklandwa.gov and search “Google Phase 2.”
