Go on a walk to give feedback about Arlington’s streets

The City Council last year adopted a resolution to work on what’s being called Complete Streets.

ARLINGTON — City officials are asking folks to take a walk.

Plans are in the works to make the streets of Arlington more accessible for all modes of transportation, including walking, bicycling or catching the bus.

The Arlington City Council last year adopted a resolution to work on what the city is calling Complete Streets. This month, the city is hosting “walkshops” — public walks, each less than a mile, around different areas of the city. The goal is for people to take a stroll and make note of features that work well for pedestrians, along with obstacles that make areas less friendly for foot traffic.

That information will be compiled into an assessment of current conditions on and alongside Arlington’s streets, city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said. The City Council aims to approve an ordinance by the end of the year that would link the Complete Streets planning with development codes and the city’s comprehensive plan.

It’s unclear what the final streets plan will look like, and whether it could lead to new rules about the design of roads and walkways.

“The best way to make sure our roadways are complete and walkable may be to require it,” Banfield said.

At minimum, the project would provide a guide for the city and private developers as they consider new projects. It also opens the door to talk about other service expansions, such as bus routes, that might be needed, Banfield said.

As new homes and businesses are built, and the city pushes for additional industrial development, Arlington is poised to keep growing. That means city leaders and planners need to take a hard look at roads, traffic and access to alternative transportation.

“It’s the perfect time to get this plan in place,” Banfield said. “We’re a growing community, and the faster we get it in place, the more walkable our community is going to be and the better those connections will be.”

People who participate in the walks are asked to complete a short survey. They’ll be entered into a drawing for a Fitbit activity tracker provided by a consultant working with the city.

Walks are rain or shine, so dress for the weather, Banfield said.

Those who cannot attend are invited to submit suggestions by email to complete streets@arlingtonwa.gov.

“Just like the majority of cities across the United States, our roadway system was built to access destinations by personal automobile,” Banfield said. “Now it’s kind of going back to those alternate modes of transportation that were available before the automobile … Sometimes people have to use a car, but we want to provide as many options as possible to get as many cars off the road as possible.”

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

When and where to walk

• 10 a.m. May 12 from the Stillaguamish Senior Center to the Smokey Point Safeway (.8 miles)

• 5:30 p.m. May 15 from the Arlington Boys & Girls Club to the Arlington Airport office (.5 miles)

• 10 a.m. May 20 from Haller Middle School to the Kona Neighborhood (.8 miles)

• 2 p.m. May 24 from Jensen Park to Bartell Drugs (.5 miles)

• 5:30 p.m. May 29 from Post Middle School to the Arlington Library (.5 miles)

Talk to us

More in Local News

This photo provided by OceanGate Expeditions shows a submersible vessel named Titan used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic. In a race against the clock on the high seas, an expanding international armada of ships and airplanes searched Tuesday, June 20, 2023, for the submersible that vanished in the North Atlantic while taking five people down to the wreck of the Titanic. (OceanGate Expeditions via AP)
A new movie based on OceanGate’s Titan submersible tragedy is in the works: ‘Salvaged’

MindRiot announced the film, a fictional project titled “Salvaged,” on Friday.

Craig Hess (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Sultan’s new police chief has 22 years in law enforcement

Craig Hess was sworn in Sep. 14. The Long Island-born cop was a first-responder on 9/11. He also served as Gold Bar police chief.

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

A suspected hit and run crash Wednesday morning left a pedestrian dead on I-5 north near Marysville. (Washington State Patrol)
Suspected hit and run crash on I-5 near Marysville leaves 1 dead

State patrol responded to reports of a body on the right shoulder of I-5. Two lanes were closed while troopers investigated.

Representative Rick Larsen speaks at the March For Our Lives rally on Saturday, June 11, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Larsen: ‘Fractured caucus’ of House Republicans is ‘unable to lead’

Following removal of the House speaker, a shutdown still looms. Congress has until Nov. 17 to devise a spending plan.

Spada Lake is seen from Culmback Dam on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, near Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Helicopter crash in Copper Lake sparks environmental, health concerns

Rangers hadn’t heard of fly-in tourism in the area — which can harm the wilderness and people downstream, advocates say.

Arlington
Man charged with dealing fentanyl pills that led to Arlington overdose

Prosecutors charged Robin Clariday with controlled substance homicide. He allegedly handed Bradley Herron the pills outside a hotel.

Lynnwood
Seattle woman identified in fatal Highway 99 crash

Elena Mroczek, 74, was killed Sunday in a crash involving a 19-year-old.