The Bellevue Downtown Association on Thursday presented its "Deal of the Year" award to the City of Bellevue and Sound Transit for an agreement struck last November on the East Link light rail project.

All seven councilmembers, including current Mayor Conrad Lee and Don Davidson, who was mayor when the council unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), accepted the award on behalf of the city.

"It's a historic night that all council members are present here," Lee said. "We want to show that the council is united to move forward to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. Bellevue is a great city. The best is yet to come. We are honored to receive this award."

According to the BDA, the award recognizes the MOU, a negotiated agreement between the City of Bellevue and Sound Transit on how voter-approved light rail will serve the city and connect downtown to the region. The MOU outlines a collaborative design process and cost saving measures to afford a downtown tunnel that offers excellent station access while preserving arterial capacity.

The BDA a nonprofit, membership organization with 240 organizational members that advocate for a shared vision of Downtown Bellevue.

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