Lynnwood plans improvements to its section of Interurban Trail

LYNNWOOD — A series of projects are on tap for the Interurban Trail in Lynnwood over the next few years.

The trail runs in Snohomish County from Everett to Edmonds. About a fifth of that stretch lies within Lynnwood city limits.

City Hall and local groups have been working together on ways to improve trail connections, usability and features. Some efforts are finished or coming up soon. Others are looking into the next decade.

One celebration comes this month, which is Bike Everywhere Month. “Bike 2 Health,” a regional effort to connect bike paths in south Snohomish County, has wrapped up Lynnwood construction. That included adding wayfinding signs along the Interurban. The signs provide distances and directions to destinations such as the community college or the shopping district. Similar construction is planned later this year in Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Lynnwood’s section is planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the 44th Avenue W. pedestrian and bicycle bridge near the transit center.

The city also wants to fix a missing link in the trail in the area of 212th Street SW.

The street will be modified and the trail realigned along the north side, deputy parks director Sarah Olson said. A new crossing is planned there near 63rd Avenue W. The project, which includes other public works construction, is expected to cost about $2.9 million.

Bidding has been delayed until the fall. The Snohomish County Public Utility District has to clean up part of the the trail land it owns.

That area has been used for storage by the utility. Some of the soil recently was found to contain a wood preservative that hasn’t been used by the PUD in about a decade.

The PUD is planning to remove the soil mid-summer, when the ground is drier, spokesman Neil Neroutsos said. After additional testing, crushed rock will cover the site. The substance isn’t considered a hazardous material, but the amount of residue was enough to prompt a closer look, he said. The PUD estimates the cost at $40,000.

Another effort on the Interurban involves the trailhead at 40th Avenue W. That’s in the City Center area where Lynnwood is fostering an urban-style downtown with taller buildings and wider sidewalks. Project Manager Dustin Akers calls it “an environment catered toward those who desire to walk and bike.” That thinking also acknowledges that car ownership is not part of everyone’s life, he said.

The expected arrival of light rail in 2023 could bring in thousands of commuters to City Center and surrounding streets. The city has been working on improving bicycle and pedestrian options for its future as a mass-transit hub.

The 40th Avenue trailhead will get seating, a picnic area, edible plants, a kiosk and a drinking fountain, among other features, Olson said. Construction is planned next year. Future installments could include outdoor fitness equipment and attractions for skaters.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.