Missing Link open house this Thursday!

The Seattle Department of Transportation will host an open house THIS THURSDAY, Aug. 8, for the Burke-Gilman Trail Extension (Missing Link) Project to take comments on the scope of alternatives to be considered in the proposed Environmental Impact Statement.

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The Burke-Gilman Trail (BGT) is one of the most well-used bicycle trails in America. Created in 1978 as multi-use trail, it follows a historic rail line from Bothell and through Kenmore, the University of Washington and Fremont.  Once in Ballard however, the trail just drops dead into NW 45^th Street at the intersection of 11^th Avenue NW, near the Fred Meyer. Trail users are left to fend for themselves against speeding cars and narrow shoulders along NW 45^th Street and Shilshole Avenue NW. This is the “Missing Link,” and for over a decade the city has been working to complete the BGT but continues to run into  "legal log jams."

Meanwhile, the Missing Link is one of the most dangerous areas for bicyclists in the city, with city records showing that emergency vehicles responded to 45 bicycle crashes in that section in a four-year period alone.

Completing the project is the city’s top-rated trail priority as identified by the Bicycle Master Plan, and we want to make sure it will happen this time. 

The meeting on Thursday is part of the public comment period and we encourage you to attend. Stations at the meeting will include the EIS Scoping process and timeline, existing area zoning and aerial maps for the public to note their suggestions for connecting the Burke-Gilman Trail through Ballard.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, at Ballard High School, 1418 NW 65th St. RSVP here.

If you are unable to attend the August 8 meeting, click here to email your public comments to the Seattle Department of Transportation using our online form.

For more information about the Missing Link, please visit our archives.