Lake Stevens updates sidewalk project

LAKE STEVENS — City leaders have updated their priorities for sidewalk construction, including projects to circle the lake with walkways and connect growing neighborhoods to schools and shopping centers, including Frontier Village.

The City Council approved its original Pedestrian Connection Plan in 2011. Earlier this month, they reviewed a 2015 version that revises construction costs, ranks high priority projects and revisits progress made in the last four years.

The plan identifies gaps in the city’s network of sidewalks. Planners prioritize projects based on how many people live nearby, potential connections to other walkways, traffic and nearness to schools, parks, services or shopping.

They’ve selected 25 priority projects. The estimated cost to complete them all is $10.7 million. Timelines depend on money.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“It’s kind of a living document,” city administrator Jan Berg said. “It is prioritized, but as grant and other funding opportunities come through, the first priority might not be the first project done.”

The sidewalk plan is being used in other documents, including the city’s comprehensive plan, she said.

If every Lake Stevens street had a walkway alongside it, planners estimate the city would have 188 miles of sidewalks.

Of that, about six of every 10 miles currently has some kind of walkway, though not all are wide enough to meet city standards.

Since 2011, the city has finished one project on its original list and started three others, which are expected to end in 2015.

In 2013, the city built a sidewalk on 20th Street Northeast linking Pilchuck Elementary to the Centennial Trail. It was prioritized because it connects to a school, Berg said. The same is true for one of the three stretches scheduled to be finished in 2015. A Safe Routes to School grant is paying for the bulk of a project that traces 91st Avenue Southeast between Fourth and Eighth streets, connecting homes to Lake Stevens Middle School and Hillcrest and Skyline elementaries.

The city also intends to complete a sidewalk along North Davies Road linking the roundabouts at Frontier Village. In early December, that project was selected for a $310,000 state grant.

The third 2015 project is on South Lake Stevens Road from South Davies Road to the Machias Cut Off. It’s part of the city’s goal to eventually have a loop of pedestrian paths around the lake.

The remaining 25 proposals range from $81,000 for 150 feet of concrete sidewalk along Hartford Drive to $1.07 million for a 2,650-foot path along Lake View Drive between Callow Road and 112th Street Northeast.

City staff plan to study the need for wider sidewalks, ramps and other suggestions from the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Sidewalks are a priority of the council,” Berg said. “We definitely would love any feedback.”

People can email suggestions for new sidewalks to Public Works director Mick Monken at mmonken@lakestevenswa.gov.

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

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Students from Explorer Middle School gather Wednesday around a makeshift memorial for Emiliano “Emi” Munoz, who died Monday, May 5, after an electric bicycle accident in south Everett. (Aspen Anderson / The Herald)
Community and classmates mourn death of 13-year-old in bicycle accident

Emiliano “Emi” Munoz died from his injuries three days after colliding with a braided cable.

Danny Burgess, left, and Sandy Weakland, right, carefully pull out benthic organisms from sediment samples on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Got Mud?’ Researchers monitor the health of the Puget Sound

For the next few weeks, the state’s marine monitoring team will collect sediment and organism samples across Puget Sound

Everett postal workers gather for a portrait to advertise the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County letter carriers prepare for food drive this Saturday

The largest single-day food drive in the country comes at an uncertain time for federal food bank funding.

Everett
Everett considers ordinance to require more apprentice labor

It would require apprentices to work 15% of the total labor hours for construction or renovation on most city projects over $1 million.

A person walks past Laura Haddad’s “Cloud” sculpture before boarding a Link car on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 in SeaTac, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sound Transit seeks input on Everett bike, pedestrian improvements

The transit agency is looking for feedback about infrastructure improvements around new light rail stations.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Dani Mundell, the athletic director at Everett Public Schools, at Everett Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett Public Schools to launch girls flag football as varsity sport

The first season will take place in the 2025-26 school year during the winter.

Clothing Optional performs at the Fisherman's Village Music Festival on Thursday, May 15 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Everett gets its fill of music at Fisherman’s Village

The annual downtown music festival began Thursday and will continue until the early hours of Sunday.

Seen here are the blue pens Gov. Bob Ferguson uses to sign bills. Companies and other interest groups are hoping he’ll opt for red veto ink on a range of tax bills. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
Tesla, Netflix, Philip Morris among those pushing WA governor for tax vetoes

Gov. Bob Ferguson is getting lots of requests to reject new taxes ahead of a Tuesday deadline for him to act on bills.

Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard
A new law in Washington will assure students are offered special education services until they are 22. State Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, a special education teacher, was the sponsor. He spoke of the need for increased funding and support for public schools at a February rally of educators, parents and students at the Washington state Capitol.
Washington will offer special education to students longer under new law

A new law triggered by a lawsuit will ensure public school students… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.