Seriously, I’m not sure how many more ways we can say this. Complete the Ballard Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail!
Tomorrow is the deadline to comment on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement the city is beginning to put together about the Burke-Gilman Trail Missing Link in Ballard.
Yes, it’s true. A decade after the City Council first approved plans for completing the Missing Link and after years of studies, legal documents, a protest spanning the length of the Missing Link demanding completion of the trail, and likely hundreds of crashes on the still-dangerous Shilshole Ave and NW 45th St, the city is starting on yet another environmental study of the trail project.
And you are once again needed to voice your opinion that the city should complete the Missing Link. Cascade Bicycle Club has created a handy online tool to help you send your thoughts on the scope of the EIS. Do this today because tomorrow (Friday) is the deadline.
For the legalese reasons for the EIS, see the notice posted below. Essentially, the city has repeatedly determined there would be no significant impact from various aspects of the trail, but legal battles have repeatedly sent the city back for more studies. So the EIS is a costly and time-consuming catchall study that, hopefully, will settle things once and for all.
The city does have some small fixes planned for next year, but they are mere Band Aids that don’t solve the core problems that make the street dangerous for the great many people who bike it every day. To truly make things safe, we need the trail. Really, we needed the trail years ago.
While other roads in the Ballard area absolutely need safety improvements — I’m looking at you, Leary Way and Market Street — a bicycle route using those streets would not be the Burke-Gilman Trail and would do nothing to improve the dangerous conditions for people walking and biking along Shilshole and NW 45th St.
So get your support for completing the trail on Shilshole and NW 45th St as planned and funded on record today.
Here’s the city’s EIS notice:
Comments
8 responses to “OMG, do we really need to say this again? Complete the Missing Link already!”
The city should crack down on parking along the south side of Shilshole and section off city owned land to prevent improper storage and parking to send a message to all those businesses that seem to think they own that area.
Such a waste of money and time all while people continue to get injured.
Speaking of dangerous sections of roadway, I came across the scene of yet another accident on Dexter yesterday. A car heading south had turned left and T-boned a cyclist.
Ugh. Do you know the time/cross street? I can try to look into it.
I think it was at Thomas St, or possibly John St. Maybe around 1:30…? The driver stopped, and there were a lot of witnesses/people on the scene. Ambulance etc. arrived shortly after I rode past.
I am totally for this!!! I get so nervous when I get to that little spot, and it’s in such a dangerous/awkward intersection. Not very encouraging for beginner bikers!! Help us help you save our natural resources, make biking easier! Thanks ~
sorry i misunderstood and can’t delete my comment! filling out the online tool right now! (:
Just moved to Seattle on 8th Ave near the east end of the missing link. Technically my house is in Ballard but it’s easier to get to Fremont (about twice as far away) on a bike. Shilshole is ok but it has pretty heavy traffic and still leaves you crossing lanes to take the left on Market. So far I’ve had the best luck taking the 8th Ave bike lane up to 56th (above Market), then heading E/W on the side streets up there. Would love to just be able to Burke-Gilman it all the way. With all the industrial activity on the waterfront in that stretch it’s hard to imagine environmental issues from installing a bike path.
“Just moved to Seattle […] hard to imagine environmental issues from installing a bike path.”
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaahahahahah!!!!!!!!!
This, my friend, is called the Seattle Process. We’ll be lucky to see this bike path inside of four years.