Seamlessly connect Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds

To get from the end of the Interurban Trail at Echo Lake Park you must:

1. turn right onto 200th

2. weave left onto Meridian

3. proceed downhill between two lanes of turning cars

4. cross a four-lane highway

5. turn left onto the auto-free trail at Macaleer Place.

We think that those diversions, down/uphills and busy roads are a serious deterrent to more people riding bikes or walking between the south part of Edmonds and the neighboring north park of Shoreline. That means people wanting to access stores, restaurants and banking at Aurora Village are destined to drive, worsening the congestion and carbon emissions in this area.

A continuous trail that’s separate from car traffic would be more welcoming for riders of all abilities, as well as strollers, runners and people in wheelchairs. It can be done. If there is a will to build a bridge that soars over the traffic and puts people back into a safer, calmer environment, it can happen.

Here are some examples: The City of Seattle built a bridge over Interstate 5 at Northgate; the City of Kirkland has built a bridge over multiple lanes of traffic at Totem Lake; the Washington State Parks recently completed a bridge (for the Willapa Hills Trail) over State Route 6 in Lewis County; Washington State Parks has also recently converted two abandoned bridges on the former Milwaukee Railroad line to expand trail access on the Palous to Cascade Trail. Closer to home, the City of Shoreline championed trail bridges for the Interurban across 155th and Aurora Avenue.

We know that the communities of Edmonds, Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace would welcome greater active transportation connections. Look at our suggested options that would create a continuous, safer and more inviting connection north-south between King and Snohomish Counties.