Interurban Trail Construction Complete
The Interurban Trail is a three-mile non-motorized transportation system developed along the former Interurban Rail Line. Owned by Seattle City Light and used as an electrical power transmission corridor, the 100-foot-wide former rail corridor runs from Seattle to Everett, roughly parallel to Aurora Avenue.
The Interurban Trail’s close proximity to Aurora Avenue and the economic core of Shoreline will provide access to nearby shopping, services and employment, plus access to transit centers at Aurora Village and the Shoreline Park and Ride. The trail project includes rest stops, trailheads, interpretive historical and natural features, and directional signs. A new signal installed recently at Linden Avenue N and N 145th Street (Seattle/Shoreline city limits) improves trail user safety.
Overview & History
Imagine walking or riding your bike from one end of Shoreline to the other without having to worry too much about the noise, distraction and danger of traffic rushing by you. Picture this corridor linking neighborhoods, businesses and parks, forming a connection through the whole community. Along this trail would be places to rest, attractive landscaping to enjoy and a variety of businesses to visit.
Shoreline celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the North Segment, 192nd - 200th, on June 12, 2004.
This long-time vision of the community has been achieved. The projects first big step was when the City of Shoreline dedicated the first segment of the Interurban Trail in April 2004 (South Segment from 145th - 155th) and the second segment in June 2004 (North Segment from 192nd - 200th). Since those dedications, construction has also been completed on the South Central Segment (160th - 175th) and the most northern segment from 200th - 205th.
Most recently, construction is completed on the last two segments of the trail. These include the North Central Segment from 175th – 192nd and the segment from 155th to 160th which includes two pedestrian bridges (one over N 155th Street on the west side of Aurora Avenue and one over Aurora Avenue at approximately N 158th Street). The pedestrian bridge segment went to construction along with the Aurora Corridor Improvement Project (N 145th Street to N 165th Street) in order to streamline the construction process, minimize disruption in that area and save costs (additional information can be found on the Aurora Corridor Project page).
For design, construction and funding purposes, Shoreline divided its portion of the Interurban Trail into six sections:
- South Section: N 145th to 155th Streets;
- South Central: N 160th to 175th Streets;
- North Central: N 175th to 192nd Streets;
- North - A: N 192nd to 200th Streets;
- North - B: N 200th to 205th Streets; and
- Bridges: N 155th to 160th Streets.
The estimated cost to complete the entire Interurban Trail through Shoreline is $11.3 million of which approximately $9.5 million was grant funding.
Connection to Edmonds
The City of Edmonds is prepared to begin construction on a missing link of the Interurban Trail in Spring 2011. This segment of trail will begin at 244th Street SW (across the street from the City of Shoreline’s N 205th Street trailhead) and continue north to 228th Street SW. This portion of the trail will include bicycle lanes for the Interurban Trail project along 76th Avenue W from SR-104 to 228th Street SW and on 228th Street SW from 76th Avenue W to the Trail. A separated path will be constructed along an alley from 76th Avenue W to 236th Street SW (McAleer Way) as well as on 74th Avenue W.
Construction is anticipated to last six months. Click the images below to see a map depicting the project area and maps showing the approximate location of the Interurban Trail all the way from N 145th Street in Shoreline to Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood.