Improvements Underway for the Burke Gilman Trail

King County is working to improve a two mile segment of the Burke Gilman Trail in Lake Forest Park, from NE 145th Street to Log Boom Park. The segment being carefully examined has a host of issues ranging from impaired sightlines and inadequate signage to cracks in the pavement—all of which are problematic for cyclists, drivers, pedestrians, adjacent homeowners, and other users. A pre-design study was conducted in 2005 analyzing problems and possible solutions for the trail. Now, the landscape architecture firm of MacLeod Reckord is completing the design, and will oversee the project through construction. Design is set to be complete in the fall of 2006. Construction will begin in the spring of 2007, after all of the permitting associated with the project has been completed.

Citizen Involvement
King County, in collaboration with the City of Lake Forest Park, appointed a Citizens Advisory Group in 2005 to make recommendations on trail design and construction. That group will continue to meet in 2006. There will also be multiple opportunities for the public to be involved throughout the design of the project.

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m. at Lake Forest Park Elementary School. If you use the trail for biking, walking, skating or running, or if you are a community member who is interested in how the trail intersects with Lake Forest Park, or if you are simply interested in this very important recreational amenity you are welcome to come to the meeting, learn more about the project, and offer your ideas on the design for the trail improvements.

Do you own property along the trail?
Homeowners who have properties adjacent to this two-mile stretch of the Burke Gilman have been especially interested in any potential changes to the trail. At a property owner meeting on March 14, they raised concerns about trail widening and the impacts that might have on their properties. Signage is another issue; to prevent collisions between cars and trail users. Drainage is another concern; property owners want to ensure that current drainage problems will be fixed by the trail redesign. And trail usage; especially speeding bicyclists, are another concern for these property owners.

A second trailside homeowner meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23 at the Lake Forest Park Elementary School. At this meeting, property owners will be able to review and comment on the preliminary trail design. If you own property adjacent to the Burke Gilman Trail between NE 145th and Log Boom Park, please attend this meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is the project funded?
A: King County is responsible for the Burke Gilman trail, including construction, ongoing improvements, and maintenance. Most of the funding for project design comes through the County’s annual budget for parks and trails. There also may be grant funding available for construction of this very important—and highly popular—regional amenity.

Q: Are the designers making changes that will help to slow down speeding cyclists?
A: Designers are responsible for designing safe sight distances, which enable cyclists to see where they are going and to be able to respond earlier if there are slower users up ahead on the trail. Improved sight distances will, on the whole, make the trail a safer experience for everyone. King County Parks will also work with the community and trail users to better educate on safe trail use, in particular speed regulations on mixed-use trails.

Q: What will happen to the fencing and vegetation along the trail?
A: The overarching goal will be to remove only what is necessary in order to make the trail improvements. Where where it does not impact safety, vegetative screening is part of the redevelopment plan.

Q: What about walkers on the trail? Will they have as much room as cyclists do?
A: The preliminary design calls for widening the paved trail to twelve feet, with a three-foot shoulder on one side and one foot on the other side of the pavement. This will significantly improve the current situation – the trail in this area is simply too narrow to accommodate all of the people who use it every day. When the trail was originally built in the early 70s, it was hard to imagine that some 1,200 to 1,500 people would be using the trail on a daily basis in 2006! The wider trail and improved sight distances will make it easier for everyone to enjoy the trail. Walkers, runners and cyclists will have more room to maneuver and react/slow down for other users they see up ahead.

Q: When will construction start? How long will it last?
A: Trail design will include preliminary and final trail design, permitting, and construction documents. Construction of the trail improvements will last for approximately six months, beginning in the spring of 2007 and ending in October 2007.

What is the CAG?

A Citizens Advisory Group began meeting in 2005 to make recommendations to King County on the trail improvement project. The group was jointly appointed by King County and the mayor of Lake Forest Park, and has been thoroughly involved in all of the analysis and design considerations that have been central to the project so far. In February 2006, the CAG produced a report (Phase One Report) summarizing their recommendations related to the pre-pesign study.

The public is welcome to attend all CAG meetings. Each meeting begins with time for public comment. The next two scheduled meetings are on Tuesday, May 16 and Tuesday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Lake Forest Park City Hall. The Phase One Report and reports from CAG meetings are also posted on the project website: dnr.metrokc.gov/parks/bg-trail.

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