The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Burke-Gilman Trail Extension Project (Missing Link) and has made the document available for public comment. The DEIS evaluates four alternatives for connecting two existing portions of the Burke-Gilman Trail between the intersection of NW 45th Street and 11th Avenue NW, and the Ballard Locks.

SDOT will hold two public hearings to provide information about the DEIS and to solicit public comments. The public hearings will be held at Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th Street on:

• Thursday, July 14
6 – 9 p.m.
Presentation at 6:15 p.m.; public comments: 7 – 9 p.m.

• Saturday, July 16
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Presentation at 10:15 a.m.; public comments: 11a.m. – 1 p.m.

The DEIS and information about how to provide comments can be found on the project website at: www.seattle.gov/transportation/BGT_Ballard.htm. Hardcopies of the report are available for viewing at a number of Seattle Public Libraries, including the Central Library (downtown), and the Ballard, Fremont, Greenwood, Magnolia, Queen Anne and University branches. Comments on the DEIS will be accepted until midnight on August 1, 2016.

The Burke-Gilman Trail (BGT) is one of the most heavily used pedestrian and bicycling routes in Seattle and connects multiple neighborhoods and other city and regional trails. It serves as a major transportation and recreation corridor for people walking, jogging and biking.

The Burke-Gilman Trail Extension (Missing Link) Project would connect two existing portions of the Burke-Gilman Trail through the Ballard neighborhood to complete the regional facility that otherwise runs continuously from Bothell to Seattle’s Golden Gardens Park. SDOT proposes to connect these two segments of the BGT with a marked, dedicated route.