Ballard Greenways is meeting tonight to recap some of the events of the previous month and discuss the Safe Routes to School program.

Ballard Greenways are a local group with the mission to bring Neighborhood Greenways to Ballard.

Neighborhood Greenways are slow-speed, low-traffic residential streets near major arterials which provide a safe option for people to bike or walk.

By adding new park-like amenities and limiting cut-through traffic, Greenways are naturally attractive both for families, and for anyone seeking a safer, more connected community experience.

While many new dedicated walking and bicycling trails are beyond the reach of the City budget, 10 miles of Greenways can be built for the cost of a single mile of new trail, offering the potential to bring a high-quality network to all Seattle neighborhoods at a comparatively low cost.

Last month, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw attended the Seattle Greenway Organizers meeting and revealed a set of pilot Neighborhood Greenways being planned by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) this coming year.

The Neighborhood Greenways under SDOT will review a total of 11 miles of Greenways: seven miles in Ballard, Beacon Hill, Greenwood, North Delridge, Wallingford, and the University District and an additional four miles in Laurelhurst (funded by Seattle Children’s Hospital).

These projects are intended to form the backbone of a new network of Greenways that effectively connect people to the places they want to go by giving them a choice to travel on quieter, safer streets around the city. 

In Ballard, the street under consideration is NW 57th Street from Seaview Avenue to 17th Avenue NW and NW 58th Street from 17th Avenue NW to 4th Avenue NW.

Learn more about Neighborhood Greenways and the Safe Routes to School programat tonight's meeting.

The meeting takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Miro Tea, 5405 Ballard Avenue.