A group of Ballard businesses is appealing Judge Rogers’ April 16th decision on the ‘Missing Link’ of the Burke Gilman Trail.
The judge ruled in favor of the city on eight of the nine issues but also ruled that the Seattle Department of Transportation must do an environmental review of a five-block section of the proposed trail between 17th Ave NW and NW Vernon before the project can move forward.
According to our news partners, the Seattle Times, the group of businesses is now appealing the eight issues. “My clients want a trail that is safe and which does not undermine the viability of the maritime and industrial businesses and provides benefits for the entire community,” attorney Josh Brower told the Times. Brower represents the Ballard businesses and says that his clients believe that the entire trail should be studied as a whole, not just the one section.
Erin Ferguson, an assistant city attorney, tells MyBallard that the environmental review of the five-block section is still underway. She’s not sure how much this appeal will delay the entire project. “It’s somewhat unexpected,” Ferguson told us. “The decision looks to us like an early appeal.” The city decided back in April not to appeal the environmental review.
The Missing Link is a 1.5 mile stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail through Ballard without an actual trail. Bicyclists currently ride along Shilshole Ave., sharing the road with cars and large trucks while maneuvering over railroad tracks. The city’s plan to bridge the link sparked a lawsuit from a coalition of Ballard industrial businesses worried about the impact on safety, traffic and parking.