Edmonds residents may soon gain another recreation option and portal of transportation to surrounding cities.
City staff was scheduled to host a community meeting Wednesday, Oct. 13 to discuss expanding the Interurban Trail through Edmonds.
The proposed trail would start at the south city limit on 76th Avenue West, continue north along the old Interurban rail line and end at the north city limit at 228th Street Southwest (see map). According to a city notice, a spur trail also is proposed from the PUD crossing at 76th Avenue West to Ballinger Park.
Specifics of the proposed plan currently are up for debate.
“We have a lot of generalized data right now, but we haven’t started the design phase because we want to hear what the community thinks,” city traffic engineer Darrell Smith said, adding that an estimated 350 flyers regarding the meeting were sent to area residents last week. “We want to sit back and instead of telling, do the listening.”
According to city staff, expanding the Interurban Trail through Edmonds has been talked about for several years. In the fall of 2001, the city secured a federal air quality grant for $250,000, or about one-third of the total estimated cost of the project. The remaining balance has been earmarked in the city’s joint transportation and parks fund, Smith said, and staff is looking at additional grants as well.
Because the proposed development would run near homes in the Lake Ballinger area, individual access needs also must be addressed in the design of the trail.
“We want to make sure we’re providing appropriate access for residents,” Smith said, “and we’re looking at more options of a shared type of facility.”
When its finished, the Edmonds Interurban Trail would host non-motorized modes of transportation including bicycles, roller skates and pedestrians. Along the path informational kiosks, signs and exercise facilities also might be added.
Currently, there are segments of the Interurban Trail in Shoreline, Lynnwood and Everett and other areas across King and Snohomish counties. Eventually the trail will stretch from Gasworks Park in Seattle to Everett, with links to other trails like the Centennial and Burke Gilman.
For more information or if you have questions regarding the proposed development of the Interurban Trail in Edmonds, call Darrell Smith at 425-771-0220 ext. 1328.
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