Arup North America to present design work for rail through South Bellevue

Arup North America Ltd. will present design work for the Bellevue City Council's preferred alternative (B7) rail through South Bellevue, Wash., that runs along the BNSF rail corridor. The $670,723 contract is a result of a council vote last month to embark upon the first of a three-phase design project to bring plans for the B7 up to a higher level for the consideration of Sound Transit. Arup's analysis and concept report will take approximately six to seven months to complete, which doesn't coincide with Sound Transit's plan to make a decision by next spring. Timing issues aside, council members are worried about funding the study. It will use $270,000 of existing funds from the 2010 budget and the rest, about $400,000, will be paid out of the 2011-2012 budget. "Getting this segment right is worth the investment of that amount," said Jennifer Robertson, council member. At the halfway point of the study the council can cut the project and stop funding. This time coincides with Sound Transit's decision, which has final say over the placement of light-rail tracks.