Burke-Gilman improvements rolling along again
"It's a little narrower and darker," said the UW's Braden Kelley of the east part of the Burke-Gilman Trail. A project is underway to make safety improvements, such as widening and new paving. Pamela Dore/University of Washington
Braden Kelley rides his bike to the UW’s Transportation Services Building several times a week, with a portion of his commute on the Burke-Gilman Trail. At the UW, he serves as manager of Commute Options & Transportation Planning, overseeing the UW’s programs for non-car commuting, including bike commuting.
So for Kelley, the experience of riding on the trail is both a personal and professional matter. One area where he’s had some bumpy rides is the trail east of Rainier Vista.
“It's a little narrower and darker. There are roots coming up through the asphalt,” he said. “It doesn't feel as welcoming and it doesn't feel as safe. I think people coming from the north or the east part of Seattle might be less inclined to want to travel through that area to get to campus.”
Now, plans are underway to make improvements to sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail between Rainier Vista and NE 47th Street. The project will look to widen the path, where feasible, and create separate lanes for different modes of travel, such as walking versus biking, focusing on areas that will have the greatest safety impact.
Other safety upgrades will include new paving, enhanced lighting and improved connections to ADA-accessible pathways. The project will also improve drainage systems and meet other long-term maintenance needs.
Granite Construction and KPFF Civil are the Design-Build team working on the project with the UW. Design is already underway, with construction expected to begin in Spring 2027. The contract with Granite-KPFF goes through the end of 2029.
The project is the next phase in Burke-Gilman Trail improvements that began with the south part of the trail between 15th Avenue NE and Rainier Vista. Those improvements were completed in 2016 and give a sense of what the new improved sections could look like.
The UW received legislative authority from the Washington State Department of Transportation to spend $16 million on the project, and the City of Seattle provided $750,000 for the initial design.
The investments from the state and city reflect the fact that the UW segment of the Burke-Gilman serves more than just UW commuters.
“A significant number of riders on the [UW segment of the] Burke-Gilman Trail are people who are not stopping on our campus,” said Transportation Services Director Mark Huppert. “They are going point to point in the city of Seattle, or they're traveling outside of the city of Seattle.”
Along with the state and city, Transportation Services will be working with Cascade Bicycle Club and other partners in the greater Seattle cycling community to get the word out ahead of next year’s construction, identify detours and more. The improvements are a response to feedback the UW has received from the cycling and pedestrian community over the years.
“It's a well-known issue that a lot of people are ready to see change,” said Kelley.
The project won’t only be a win for users of the Burke-Gilman Trail. It also contributes to the UW’s sustainability goals, which include reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips to campus to 12% by 2028.
“A lot of money goes into maintaining parking lots and to support people driving to work,” said Kelley. “So it's great to see so much support of and investment from the state in alternatives such as this trail, which serves more than just our community. It serves the entire region.”
