Seattle Press on Line - It's Not Easy to Get From 11th Avenue Northwest to Golden Gardens by Bicycle

It's Not Easy to Get From 11th Avenue Northwest to Golden Gardens by Bicycle

The future of the Burke-Gilman Trail? Trail user Sara Benveniste and her son Conner ride the missing link.

Nov 15, 2000 -- Bike enthusiasts who want to extend the Burke-Gilman Trail along the railroad tracks that run through Ballard's marine industrial waterfront faced stiff questioning at the Ballard District Council meeting November 8.

Although new sections of the trail, from 8th Avenue Northwest to 11th Avenue Northwest and along Seaview Avenue Northwest from the Locks to Golden Gardens, have been approved, there is a "missing link between 11th Avenue Northwest and the Locks," according to Kevin Carrabine and Davidya Kasperzyk, who represented Friends of the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Kasperzyk proposed that the trail cut through the industrial area, sharing a 40-foot railroad right of way with the Ballard Terminal Railroad Company.

The proposal "recognizes Ballard's industrial heritage, and we think the trail and the industrial area can coexist comfortably. When the Lake Sammamish part of the trail is completed, cyclists should be able to pedal from Issaquah all the way to Puget Sound," Kasperzyk said.

This doesn't sit right with Byron Cole, operations manager of the railroad company, which holds a 30-year franchise on the right-of-way from the city. "This is still an active railroad, and having the use of the full width is an important part of our business plan," Cole said. "We have a double track right now and we use it."

Carrabine said the city wrote an option into the franchise agreement, which could permit alternative uses of the right of way.

Warren Aakervik, owner of Ballard Oil and a major property owner in the marine industrial area, said a street level trail would be faster and safer for bike commuters. Aakervik said thousands of trucks from 850 businesses would cross the trail every day, posing a danger to cyclists and delays to businesses."They don't want my trucks on their industrial streets, but they want to put this park-like recreational trail in the industrial corridor," Aaakervik said.

Kasperzyk said, "This is our preferred alternative and it will accommodate business needs, safety and simplicity."

Trail advocates will hold an open house to present their proposals to the public, Thursday November 16 at the Seattle Maritime Academy, 4455 Shilshole Ave. NW, just east of the Ballard Bridge on the ship canal.

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!

No comments yet!