By Ed Feeley

The Burke-Gilman Trail is the crown jewel of our regional trail system. Every day, thousands of people walk, run, bike and inline skate this multi-use trail connecting Bothell to Golden Gardens—well, everywhere on the trail except in one notable place.

Right here in Ballard, there is a big break in the Burke-Gilman Trail, well-known as the “Missing Link,” that runs from Fred Meyer to the Chittenden Locks.

For people who walk or skate, it’s no-man’s land along NW 45th Street, Shilshole Avenue NW and NW 54th Street (which is all gravel). But for people who bike, it has been incredibly dangerous. In a recent four year period, emergency vehicles responded to 45 bicycle crashes along NW 45th Street and Shilshole Avenue NW—mostly where railroad tracks cross NW 45th Street under the Ballard Bridge.

I too have crashed and was injured on the Missing Link’s railroad tracks. So, I decided to see what could be done to fix the problem. What I discovered was truly disheartening. For more than 15 years, powerful lawyers for oil and mining companies to have road-blocked the trail with political and legal tactics.

The opponents—Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, Ballard Oil and Ballard Rail—have sued the city of Seattle three times. Tired of the litigation, in August 2013, the city launched a $1.5 million, 18-month study of the trail’s potential environmental impacts. Once it’s done, only then will the city finally begin designing and building the multi-use trail. To make matters worse, the 18-month a timeline keeps slipping and slipping for unknown reasons.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has done a few things over the last year to fix the most problematic issues for the safety of people who bike. SDOT rechannelized NW 45th Street and installed a two-way bike lane, created better crossing angles across the railroad tracks and installed a crosswalk at Shilshole Avenue and NW 46th Street. SDOT also promised to soon improve the shoulders of Shilshole Avenue.
But this is a far cry from a nationally-recognized multi-use trail that people can enjoy walking, biking and skating.

Ballard is one of the fastest growing urban centers in the city with more people living, dining, shopping and working here. Whether it’s a commuter getting to work Monday through Friday or a visitor coming to the Ballard Farmers Market on Sunday, completing the Burke-Gilman Trail will provide a much needed way for people to get here and get around. That can only be good news for everyone in Ballard—from residents to businesses.

We’ve waited long enough. It’s time to expedite the city’s study and start building the trail.
Want to help make it happen? Here are three easy steps:

1. Contact the mayor’s office and city councilmembers to let them know you want the trail built.

2. If you’ve ever crashed on the Missing Link like I have, then tell your story. Peddler Brewing (1514 NW Leary Way) is videoing testimonials; stop in sometime.

3. Join “Connect Ballard,” a team of a growing number of caring neighbors who are passionate about completing the Burke-Gilman Trail. Our next meetup is on Monday, April 20th at 6 p.m. at Peddler Brewing.
Let’s stop walking and start running to complete the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Ed Feeley is a member of Connect Ballard, a team of caring neighbors working to complete the Burke-Gilman Trail.