There are just five days left to provide feedback on the latest Burke-Gilman Trail Missing Link design in Ballard.
The project has reached the 60% design stage for the proposed route along NW Market Street, Leary Way NW, and 17th Avenue NW. Community members can review the latest plans and submit comments through June 29.
The route is being studied as an alternative way to connect two existing sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Ballard. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the proposed alignment would follow NW Market Street east from 24th Avenue NW, continue along Leary Avenue NW, and connect to 17th Avenue NW before rejoining the existing trail route.
Councilmember Dan Strauss said the study stems from a proposal he made in 2023, with Mayor Bruce Harrell requesting that SDOT evaluate the Market/Leary/17th corridor as an option for completing the Missing Link.
The updated design follows earlier public outreach and feedback. Strauss noted that two design options are currently being considered for the trail segment near the Ballard Landmark senior living building on Leary Avenue NW.
According to SDOT, the project is intended to provide an all-ages-and-abilities trail while improving connectivity within the city’s bike network. The current design includes a multi-use trail for people walking, biking, rolling, and using other mobility devices, along with safety improvements such as upgraded curb ramps, raised crossings, and traffic signal changes.
The proposed route is separate from the city’s previously designed Missing Link alignment along Shilshole Avenue NW. SDOT has completed a 100% design for the Shilshole route, but construction has been paused because of ongoing litigation that has delayed the project for more than two decades.
Strauss said advancing the Market/Leary/17th design will help the city better understand how the route could connect the Burke-Gilman Trail and what impacts it could have on the surrounding area.
Reaching 90% design will be the next step in the project development process.
Community members can view the latest design plans and submit comments through SDOT’s Missing Link Bike Route Study webpage or by emailing MissingLink_BikeRouteStudy@seattle.gov. Feedback will be accepted through June 29.
Rendering by SDOT