Council member backs idea of funding study

King County council member Rod Dembowski gave enthusiastic backing to the idea of making the Interurban Trail a safer route by connecting the two ends of it in Shoreline (King County) and Edmonds (Snohomish County). Dembowski, who represents the northern part of King County which includes Shoreline, encouraged advocates to “think big” and to see a future bridge (or tunnel) as a “100-year investment.”

Dembowski toured the site May 6 with members of North Sound Bicycle Advocates, the group promoting a safer connection between the two disconnected ends of the Interurban Trail. He encouraged the group to again explore the potential of using the original railway right-of-way and spanning both 205th Avenue and SR 104. The original Interurban electric railway followed a route that today is adjacent to the King County Metro Aurora Village park and ride and extends behind Home Depot and other. businesses on the site of the original Auroa Village shopping center.

A study - costing $100-$200,000 - is required before a government agency could then apply for federal or state grants to fund design and construction. CM Dembowski indicated that King County Parks could contribute to such a study if other government entities also put in funds.

North Sound Bicycle Advocates is lobbying for neighboring cities of Edmonds, Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace to join both counties and the state