Council approves two support letters for Metro’s K Line locally preferred alternative; emphasizes service‑hour protections and mitigation
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Summary
The council voted to send two letters backing King County Metro's locally preferred alternative for the K Line, with one letter (to Metro) incorporating specific technical caveats about retaining local service hours and protecting connections; council also requested that record‑of‑support memos be referenced in the letters.
Kirkland City Council on March 18 voted to authorize two letters of support for King County Metro’s locally preferred alternative (LPA) for the proposed K Line rapid bus corridor, while asking staff to ensure technical caveats and record‑of‑support conditions are incorporated.
Transportation planner Kimberly Scrivner presented two draft letters: one addressed to King County Metro that incorporated technical conditions (service hour protections, a request to prioritize connections to Lake Washington Institute of Technology and an explicit ask to retain Kirkland’s current service levels during any restructure), and another addressed to the King County Council for grant and funding advocacy that was more general in tone.
Councilmember Sweet moved approval of both letters; Councilmember Falcone seconded. The motion passed without objection. In support of the LPA, council members emphasized minimizing property impacts and ensuring Metro does not reduce existing Kirkland service hours as the K Line is implemented.
Why it matters: Approval advances Kirkland’s formal support in Metro’s record and strengthens the city’s application for federal grant funding (small starts and other competitive programs). Council paired the support with a request to Metro that mitigation and design minimize private property acquisitions and that Metro retain or prioritize service hours in Kirkland during network restructures.
Council direction and next steps
- The letter to Metro explicitly references staff’s record‑of‑support memos and technical caveats; council asked staff to incorporate those memos by reference so Metro and the county consider Kirkland’s mitigation requests and operational priorities.
- Council members asked staff to continue outreach with affected property owners and to seek additional resources if needed to monitor project design and mitigation (several councilmembers noted potential need for extra technical or contracting support during detailed design).
Quotations
- "We do have Metro staff here if you have any more questions about that," Kimberly Scrivner said when introducing the recommendation.
- "This project will require minimizing impacts to private residences," Councilmember Pasco said during public comment, and council directed staff to press Metro for design solutions to reduce potential property takings.
Outcome: Motion carried 7‑0; staff will send the two letters and incorporate earlier record‑of‑support memos and continue to negotiate technical mitigations and outreach during design.
