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Burke-Gilman Trail Extension Project Home
About the Burke-Gilman Trail
Photo Gallery
Map of Burke-Gilman Trail Project Area
Ballard Locks to NW 60th Street
Aerial Map of Trail Alignment (Locks)
NW 60th St to Golden Gardens Park
Map of Trail Alignment (Golden Gardens)
Golden Gardens Park Entrance Intersection
11th Ave NW to Ballard Locks

Burke-Gilman Trail Extension Projects

11th Ave. NW - Ballard Locks ("Missing Link")

Updated October 7, 2008

Design Proposal Boards:
(October 2008)

Board 1 Board 2 Board 3 Board 4 Board 5 Board 6

Frequently Asked Questions (September 2008)

What's Happened Since Fall 2007

The Design Team used the ideas generated at the November 2007 open house and through the trail planning website, as well as guidance provided by the SDOT staff, to refine the design details. The project is being designed in two sections, the 11th Avenue NW to 17th Avenue NW section is at 90% design level and the 17th Avenue NW to the Ballard Locks section is at a 60% design level. The updated project information will be presented at a public meeting planned for October of 2008. At this meeting, participants will have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed design. That review will help guide the remainder of the trail design process.

The Design Team studied several design options to fit a multi use trail in the route that the City Council defined in 2003. The preferred design generally follows the south side of NW 45th Street and Shilshole Avenue NW between 11th Avenue NW and 17th Avenue NW with a new pedestrian and vehicular signal at 17th Avenue NW and Shilshole Avenue NW.

For the 17th Avenue NW to the Ballard Locks portion, the design is much like the 2003 approved route:

  • Interim route along Ballard Ave NW and NW Vernon Place
  • New trail on the south side of Shilshole Avenue NW between the roadway and the railroad to the driveway of the former Yankee Diner.
  • The trail will parallel the railroad from the former Yankee Diner to 24th Avenue NW (local access drive along this alignment is being reviewed).
  • The trail will continue on the north side of the railroad tracks from 24th Avenue NW to the Ballard Locks.

The goal is to provide a 12 foot wide multi use facility with a minimum width of 10 feet where the trail is constricted by existing structures.

The interim route along NW Market Street from 24th Avenue NW to 28th Avenue NW will be constructed if there is a significant delay in resolving design issues, a delay in acquiring right of way, or the requirement of right of way construction activities on neighboring properties.

Summary of November 15th, 2007 Open House held at Whitman Middle School:

More than 70 people attended the first public meeting for the Burke Gilman “Missing Link” Project. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the design process, describe some preliminary trail alignment designs and hear from meeting participants about their ideas and concerns for this segment of the Burke Gilman Trail.

At the meeting poster boards were on display (see design proposal aerials below) showing the trail alignment and the general design details for different trail segments. In a presentation to the crowd the project manager noted these key points:

1) As of 2003, the final route decision for the “Missing Link” was made. This route, formerly identified as the green line, was previously examined through a public process and approved by City Council. The environmental review process is currently under way along the proposed route. This new public process is in place to provide a forum for public comments and concerns related to proposed trail design.

2) SDOT has actively met with property owners and businesses to discuss how to mitigate any potential impacts to loading docks and driveways. No final decisions have been made about the design details.

3) The possibility of building a complete permanent trail as opposed to a trail with two interim segments will continue to be evaluated by the City for the longevity of the project.

A presentation of the design team’s proposed alignment of the trail identified where there may be opportunities to improve and organize traffic flow; add striping and signage; or improve streetscape and drainage with the trail. In the question and answer session the following issues were discussed:

1) What is the City of Seattle doing to address the 150 parking spaces that will be removed to accommodate the trail?

2) Seeing that it has taken decades to get to this phase of trail design, what is the City doing to drive the trail construction funding process?

3) Please consider the needs of cyclists like the needs of drivers. Are there bike lockers or stalls planned for the trail as well?

4) Safety is critical. The City needs to make sure curb cuts and repairs are made to trail connections with sidewalks. Also, do not use decorative gravel or trees with shallow roots. These elements make for treacherous biking conditions.

Full list of public comments received at Open House

Design Proposal Aerials:
(November 2007)
Board 1 Board 2 Board 3 Board 4

Frequently Asked Questions
(November 2007)
Ballard Corridor Design Study - February 2003

Below are links to all sections of the design study:

Executive Summary
Design Study
Appendix A: Conceptual Design Plans (Recommendation)
Appendix B1, B2, and B3: Cost Estimates (All Options)
Appendix B4 and B5: Cost Estimates (Recommendation)
Appendix C: Conceptual Design Plans (Open House)
Appendix D: Missing Link History
Appendix E: Cross Section Guide
Appendix F: Parking Data
Appendix G1: Green Route Photos
Appendix G2: Red Route Photos
Appendix G3: Blue Route Photos
Comments from 2002 Open House

To view the above PDF documents, download the free Acrobat Reader from the Adobe website.

If you would like to receive email information about this and other Burke-Gilman Trail projects, please sign up for the Burke Gilman Trail e-mail distribution list.

For more information on this project, contact:

Kirk T. Jones, Project Manager, Seattle Department of Transportation, (206) 615-0862, or by Internet e-mail, kirkt.jones@seattle.gov.

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