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 Estimated 250 Citizens Urge Trail Completion
Trail users young and old gathered just West of the Ballard
Bridge to send a message to the 2010 Mayor and Seattle City Council: please complete the "missing link" now that it is funded, designed
and ready to go to bid.
Completion of a safe trail along Shilshole Avenue has been a high priority for pedestrians,
recreational and commuter bicyclists for over a dozen years. It is currently delayed by litigation brought by Ballard
Industrialists and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce. Once the litigration is resolved, it will be up to the
next mayor and city council to fix an unsafe corridor without further delay.
MyBallard.com estimated that 250 people showed up for the Oct. 27 vigil between 5:30-6:30 pm with blinking red lights
and orange T shirts "WE ARE THE MISSING LINK"
Read story. Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn, an unequivocal trail supporter, attended the event.
The evening vigil was supported by Sustainable Ballard, Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail, Totcycle/Kidical Mass, Feet
First, Groundswell NW, Seattle Likes Bikes, Cascade Bicycle Club, Undriving.org, CoolMom,
Spokespeople, SCALLOPS, Urban Sparks, Sunset Hill Community Association, and Washington Liveaboard Association.
For more news on the event
see King5 News
Near UW Dec 14- Jan 3
University Link is a 3.15-mile extension of light rail from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington.
Between December 14, 2009 and January 3, 2010, Sound Transit's contractor will install the infrastructure for
an electrical ductbank that will provide power to the UW Station construction site and ultimately additional
high voltage service to the University of Washington campus. The work is scheduled during UW's winter break
to minimize impacts on trail users. While the work is underway, pedestrian and bicycle traffic along the
Burke Gilman Trail (BGT) will be re-routed for a short distance at the south end of the UW campus
(see attached alert).
Also during that same timeframe, contractors will install the electrical ductbank under Montlake Boulevard and it
will be necessary to restrict traffic to one lane in either direction. This work will be done at night to minimize
the impact to traffic on Montlake Boulevard.
If you would like more information concerning the University Link project please contact me at 206-370-5516
or wilbert.santos@soundtransit.org. You can also visit
http://www.soundtransit.org/UWstation
“Missing Link”of Burke-Gilman Trail
Creates unobstructed trail from
Sept. 9, 2008: Mayor Greg Nickels proposed to fund the last remaining segment of the
Burke-Gilman Trail in a speech to the international Pro Walk/ Pro Bike Conference
held in Seattle. His 2009-2010 proposed budget allocates
$8.6 million to complete the “Missing Link” segment over the next two years.
The funding will allow the city to construct a trail segment, commonly known as the “Missing Link,”
from 11th Avenue Northwest to the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks. Under the mayor’s proposal,
the city would begin construction on the trail section in 2009 and complete its work by 2010.
Once completed, the trail will create a regional trail system running unobstructed
through Seattle, to Issaquah via the Sammamish River Trail and the East Lake Sammamish Trail.
It is the city’s top-rated trail priority as identified by the Bicycle Master Plan. This effort
supports the plan’s two primary goals of tripling the amount of cycling and reducing the
rate of bicycle collisions by a third.
Funding for the project will come from Bridging the Gap levy funds dedicated to bike and
trail improvements, the 2007 King County Proposition 2 Trail and Open Space levy, and from grants.
Bridging the Gap is the $365 million levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006. It enables
much-needed work by the Seattle Department of Transportation, such as roadway paving,
sidewalk development and repair, bridge maintenance, and tree planting. The levy also
supports the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, enhanced transit connections and l
arge Neighborhood Street Fund projects.
details at: at Seattle.gov
Organize to Support Section of BG Trail
Friends of the Burke Gilman Trail at Lake Forest Park is a group of Lake Forest Park residents
and business owners who believe that the Burke-Gilman Trail
is a local treasure in need of active support from the community.
For more information
Described in Nov. 11, 2007 Article
Seattle PI reporter Angela Galloway discusses some of the remaining hurdles
to completing the Burke Gilman Trail "missing link." Read her article
posted on the web Nov. 11, 2007
on SDOT Web Site
To see design proposals and Frequently Asked Questions visit SDOT's site at:
To Benefit Burke-Gilman Trail
Recreational Equipment, Inc (REI) contributed $3,507 in April, 2005 to Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail as part of their nation-wide support of "Service Projects" that encourage volunteerism, trail maintenance and public outdoor projects. FOBGT Chairman Dave Janis(left) receives the contribution from REI's Josh Mitchell (right). To view upcomming clinics and store events for the Seattle area see StoreEvents
to Clean Up Shilshole Ave.
Could Open in January Celebrate 30th Anniversary
Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail handed out a route map showing the sections that are funded for completion and the "missing link" which will require continuing efforts from Trail supporters to reach the funding and planning stages. A highlight of the flyer were 45 businesses in Ballard who support the trail. Read more in the Seattle Time's article Burke-Gilman Trail's history celebrated on 30th anniversary.
"The Missing Link": No schedule has been announced for securing funds, design and construction of this last section of the Burke-Gilman Trail which goes from 11th Street to the Locks. Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail continue to push for progress on this critical section of the trail.
The Vote is 7 to 2
The final vote came after several amendments to the "Green Route" resolution were narrowly defeated. These amendments included a proposal to extend the trail further along Ballard Avenue to Market Street and a proposal to postpone any decision until another alternative route could be considered. Helping to convince the council were letters written by owners of businesses along the "Green Route" who believe a safe trail can be built and can coexist with industry.. It helped that there was an out pouring of letters and emails from all of you trail supporters. The next step is to design a safe trail that meets the concerns of both bicyclists and industry, apply for funding and move ahead with optimism and a progressive spirit. Contact us with your ideas and suggestions for supporting the trail through the next phase.
To read Mayor Nickels' press release, go to http://www.cityofseattle.gov/mayor/. Once there, you can see the final Ballard Corridor Design Study report, which gives the details of the proposed route. Though the Mayor is not proposing seeking funding for the entire length of trail at present, the compromise he reached on trail routing and phasing strikes a balance between completing key segments of the trail, and acknowledging the vitality and vigor of Ballard's industrial businesses and their operational needs. This is a win-win for everyone involved! To see the SDOT recommendation, go to http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/mayor/Burke_Gilman.htm
Click on maps to see full size
Makes Case for "Green Route" The Last Half Mile
The “Missing Link” is the subject of a Dec 11, 2000 article in the Seattle Times.
Spokesmen on both side of the trail issue are interviewed by the Times staff.
Years to Go Before Gap in Burke-Gilman Closes
Burke-Gilman Trail Study Wins Design Award
Nov 14, 2001: A design study commissioned by the Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail has won the
"Merit Award for Landscape Planning and Analysis" from the Washington Society of Landscape Architects.
Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail, a neighborhood group advocating the completion of the
popular Burke-Gilman Trail through Ballard, worked with the local firms Susan Black - Landscape
Architects and A Northwest Collaborative on the study. Its goal are design solutions for
a multi-use trail within the city-owned railroad right-of-way connecting the Ballard Locks
and the Ballard Bridge, while maintaining rail service.
Davidya Kaserzyk, AIA, principal of one of the design firms, expressed his satisfaction upon
winning the award "The award was given for quality planning and analysis of a very difficult
urban design issue. Our design clearly shows that a trail can coexist with the railroad."
Jack Brautigam, Chair of the Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail, weighs in
"The study shows how a trail could benefit the Ballard Industrial Area and the
National Historic District by considering the needs of businesses and industry as well
as those of cyclists and pedestrians."
"Missing Link" Trail Sketches
We present our design for the ‘missing link’ section of Burke-Gilman Trail through Ballard.
The design shows how a multi-use trail can fit within the rail and street right-of-way. The Trail will create new
non-motorized transportation options while optimizing the use of this valuable corridor for freight, rail, and automobiles.
Visit our “Trail Design” page to view design drawings showing segments of the route.
We invite your questions, comments and your participation. Email us at Friends@BurkeGilmanTrail.Org.
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Undeterred by intermittent showers, about 150 people showed up to celebrate the 30 year
struggle to complete the Burke-Gilman Trail and to break ground for the section
of trail between the Ballard (Chittenden) Locks and NW 60th Street.
City Councilors Richard Conlin and Jim Compton, both long-time trail supporters, praised the
Burke-Gilman as good for people, good for business and good for the national goal
of providing alternatives to fossil fuel dependency.