Local residents can have their say as to the future path of the North Creek Trail at public meetings to be held over the next few weeks.
“This is an important connector for the regional trail system,” said Steve Dickson, an assistant public works director for Snohomish County.
Dickson said officials are looking at two possible paths for the trail as it heads north of Filbert Road and 208th Street Southeast near the northern end of Bothell, west of Thrasher’s Corner.
On what has been dubbed the western alignment, Dickson said there is room for a “separated, two-dimensional path.”
According to a graph from the county, the path somewhat follows Filbert Drive as it heads north, but Dickson talked about the western possibility forging its own trail, so to speak, away from established roads.
Dickson said the alternative, east alignment heads north from 208th Street largely running between or near 13th Drive Southeast and 14th Drive Southeast. Dickson added the east alignment doesn’t really leave room for a full-fledged, dedicated trail. But he said path would allow for safe passage of pedestrian and bike traffic.
In terms of creating that eastern path, Dickson talked about “traffic calming” steps such as adding curbs and sidewalks. Both alignments eventually head even further north from the area of Waxen Road and 192nd Street Southeast.
Dickson said it’s important to note Snohomish County does not have the funding to make either alignment happen at this point. But he said once officials have gathered in some public input and decide on a route, they can move forward with acquiring needed right-of-ways. Dickson added the county hopes to have that portion of the project completed by 2013. In the meantime, officials will apply for grants or other means of funding actual trail construction.
According to information coming from Snohomish County, officials launched Phase 1 of its plan to complete a section of the North Creek Trail between State Route 524 and 183rd Street Southeast, just west of Bothell-Everett Highway. The trail is advertised as becoming part of a regional system that eventually will connect the Sammamish River/Burke-Gilman Trail in King County with the Regional Interurban Trail in Everett.
Dickson said some initial open houses on trail plans were held in 2010. He said some issues raised at those sessions included concerns that the trial will fit in with whatever neighborhoods it passes through. Observers also thought it important the trail joined up with existing walking and biking paths.
Open houses are all scheduled to run from 6-7:30 p.m. Visitors may arrive any time during the meetings and the same exhibits and information should be available at all three sessions. Dates and locations are as follows: March 9, Crystal Springs Elementary School, 21615 Ninth Ave. S.E., Bothell; March 10, Alderwood Middle School, 20000 28th Ave. W., Lynnwood; and, March 15, Mill Creek City Council Chambers, 15728 Main St.
