ARLINGTON — The city has received a grant that will enable it to begin drafting plans to close one of the last gaps on the Centennial Trail. The $269,716 grant is also expected to fund the “pre-planning” stage and environmental review of a project that would improve 67th Avenue NE.
As businesses, housing developments and industry have sprung up around the two-lane road, it has become crowded and outdated, said assistant city administrator Kristin Banfield. The grant would help Arlington plan to expand the road to three lanes and add left-hand turn lanes, sidewalks and curbs between 204th Street NE and Lebanon Street. The remaining sections of 67th Avenue NE have already been improved.
“This is a significant construction project for us,” Banfield said. “It completes that missing link in our Centennial Trail that we really want to get finished. It also improves a roadway section that is very heavily traveled by both cars and commercial vehicles.”
The City Council unanimously voted to accept the grant from the state Department of Transportation on Tuesday. The city plans to contribute around $42,000 to the project.
Traffic has increased dramatically on 67th Avenue NE in the last few years, Banfield said. She expects the improvements to alleviate some of the street’s traffic problems while making it more friendly for pedestrians.
The Centennial Trail, which stretches from Snohomish to Arlington, parallels 67th Avenue NE. However, there is a 1.2-mile gap in the trail from 204th Street NE and Lebanon Street.
The gap prevents many bicyclists and joggers from following the trail into downtown Arlington.
“Having that trail completed will be huge,” Banfield said. “Right now you have to jump from sidewalk and back to path and back to sidewalk. It would be nice to have one designated trail.”
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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