Initial election results show that while a majority of Issaquah voters supported the City's traffic improvement bonds, the measure hasn't reached the required 60 percent yes threshold required for approval.
"I'm very encouraged that the majority of Issaquah voters are supportive of making investments to reduce congestion, enhance safety and improve local streets," Mayor Fred Butler said. "As a next step, we will continue working on solutions to address local and regional congestion."
Focusing on transportation issues both north and south of Interstate 90 — from Eastgate to North Bend — Butler recently invited state, county, city and agency leaders to a Regional Transportation Summit on Nov. 22, 2016, in Issaquah.
The $50 million traffic improvement bond measure on the Nov. 8 ballot proposed funding the following local projects:
- East Sunset Way
- Newport Way - 54th Street to State Route 900
- Newport Way - Maple Street to Sunset Way
- Providence Point Signalization
The list of local projects came together after an extensive public process that started with a community survey, and also included outreach through open houses, social media and online submissions.
In late 2015, the mayor appointed a team of volunteers called the Traffic Task Force, which made recommendations on a potential package of transportation projects earlier this year. In June 2016, the City Council narrowed the potential package to the final four projects.