Bellevue’s long-standing goal for downtown is summed up in a “Great Place” strategy to create a regional center by tying together distinct neighborhoods through public areas and infrastructure.

On Monday, City Council members were updated on how that strategy is being turned into reality by way of projects funded in the city’s capital budget. From a list of 39 downtown projects in the 2007-2013 Capital Investment Program, 25 are budgeted to receive funding.

The Great Place strategy aims to make downtown “viable, livable, memorable and accessible.” To do that, it emphasizes a “multi-modal” transportation system that includes a variety of options in addition to driving.

Capital project budgets range from $20,000 to coordinate planning for a connection from downtown to Meydenbauer Bay, to $3 million for enhancements on the Northeast Sixth Street corridor, to $6.38 million to widen Northeast Second Street from Bellevue Way to 112th Avenue Northeast.

Other projects include planning for a downtown fire station ($1 million), work on a downtown circulator bus ($1 million), creation of the new Ashwood Park Plaza ($1.2 million), work on mid-block pedestrian crossings ($1.3 million), a “Great Streets” effort to improve walkability and enhance the appearance of street corridors ($3.8 million) and widening Northeast Eighth Street from 106th to 108th Avenue Northeast ($4 million).

The most expensive project on the downtown list is the extension of Northeast 10th Street above Interstate 405, from 112th Avenue Northeast to 116th Avenue Northeast. It’s funded at $10.44 million in the Capital Investment Program, but Bellevue’s share is approximately $105,000. The rest comes from state and federal grants.