February 9, 2026

Federal grant comes for Bellevue's Grand Connection Crossing

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Looking west, the GCX is flanked by possible future developments (shown in gray).

The city of Bellevue is taking a twofold approach to its Grand Connection project — a paved surface route, partly in place — and the future bike/pedestrian bridge across the freeway to reach Wilburton and Eastrail. That's the Grand Connection Crossing, known informally as the GCX … which helps to separate the two projects.

$2M BOOST FOR THE GCX

So, on to the GCX, which the city estimates will cost about $200 million. Of that, Bellevue intends to contribute $46.7 million. Friends of the Grand Connection, an outside advocacy group, has contributed (or will) $2.5 million. Some amount of state funding, plus approval from WSDOT, is also in the mix. Bond financing seems likely.

Also aiding the planning effort, and announced last week by the office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, is a $2 million federal grant to support the GCX. The press release said in part, “This funding would be used to support engagement outcomes, ensuring that the crossing meets the community's needs, and equitably resolves connectivity, growth, and safety issues.” It also notes the role of Rep. Adam Smith in helping to secure the money.

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The design calls for a series of “rooms,” or overlooks, where people can sit and gather.

Roughly in alignment with Northeast Sixth Street, the GCX will run parallel to and near south of the light-rail crossing for the 2 Line. It's now at 30% in the city's early design scheme. Next up is a request for proposals to secure a general contractor/construction manager. That RFP is supposed to come early this year.

Once that role is filled, says the city, the GCX will advance to a final design for the over 2,000-foot-long span. The timeline, by no means guaranteed, is to open the GCX in 2030. Planning began about five years back.

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By foot, the city estimates a walking time of nearly eight minutes to cross the span.

Working on the project thus far have been LMN Architects; Concord Engineering Group, traffic engineering and design; Fehr & Peers, multimodal planning; Furtado & Associates, surveyor; OJB Landscape Architecture; Ott-Sakai & Associates, construction consultant; Toole Design Group, trail integration; WSP, structural engineer; and HNTB, consultant to the city.

Last fall's design presentation to the Bellevue City Council has been scaled back from 2023's scheme, which had more bells and whistles. Still central to the design are a series of so-called “rooms,” or overlooks, where people can sit and gather. Those bear names like Northwest Terrace, Sequoia Overlook, Sturtevant Promenade and Wilburton Gateway. Those are meant to echo and complement the other rooms (gathering points) along the grade-level Grand Connection.

On west end of the GCX, at City Hall and Bellevue Downtown Station, an expansion of City Hall Plaza is still proposed. That would become the Forest Plaza room. (The city also owns a transit oriented development site there, where housing is planned.)

Public art, wayfinding signage, landscaping, etc. are also on the GCX menu. By foot, the city estimates a walking time of nearly eight minutes to cross the span.

The city also intends to coordinate design, and perhaps some financing, with property owners over on the east Wilburton side of the span. Notably, it'll cross above the large holdings of KG Investment Properties. It has about 6.6 acres, with several apartment buildings in early planning. As the GCX lowers to grade, before meeting Eastrail, it could pass between some of those buildings.

EXPLORE THE CORRIDOR!

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Belle the Bobcat — Grand Connection’s new ambassador.

Back to the Grand Connection. On the west side of Bellevue, that's to begin at Meydenbauer Bay Park, then head northeast along existing streets to Downtown Park. It'll then link up with the existing footpath on Sixth — basically from the Macy's at Bellevue Square to the new light-rail station and older bus station. You can walk or bike that route now, but with little to no separation from traffic. The future trek from Meydenbauer Bay to Wilburton will be about 1.5 miles.

For those wanting to walk and explore at least some of the future protected route, the city and Visit Seattle launched an “Explore the Corridor” program in late 2024. It naturally has a very kawaii mascot, Belle the Bobcat, which is featured on signage and decals along the route. Those of course have scannable QR codes that help lead “visitors on an insider's journey to discover the best things to do in the city, including top-rated dining spots, local festivals, and scenic spots perfect for families or solo travelers.”

Says Visit Bellevue, “With her playful energy and love for exploration, Belle is the ultimate ambassador for all that Bellevue has to offer.”

RFPS FOR TODS

Last, what about the city's two TOD sites? In December of 2023, the city put out RFPs for planning consultants — not developers — for the west site (at City Hall, aka the Metro Site) and the east Lincoln Center site (in Wilburton). There haven't yet been RFPs issued to actual developers; nor is there a schedule for doing so.