Everett Link Comment Opportunity
Rick Proctor
Did you know?
- BIKES Club of Snohomish County is a 501C4 non-profit organization that is operated for social welfare oriented toward promoting bicycling. We are not a 501C3 non-profit charity organization.
- One of our BIKES Club goals is to encourage transportation development organizations to provide bicycle friendly infrastructure that will draw more people to bicycling.
- Your participation and influence in community input activities, like the Everett Link Extension early scoping comments period, helps our BIKES Club accomplish our goals.
There will be significant new transportation options provided by extending the Sound Transit Regional Link Light Rail system as far north as Everett. However, alignment of the light rail route and location of a new Operations Maintenance Facility in the Everett vicinity are expected to provide negative impacts to bicycling infrastructure during the lengthy construction phase.
You have an opportunity to make inputs during the early scoping comments period by December 10th, 2021, in this link: Everett Link Extension (participate.online). This website also provides a subscription opportunity for you to receive regular doses of Everett Link project news straight from the source and have more opportunities to make inputs later in the project development process.
There is a lot to read and understand in the link above in order to make meaningful comments. When construction starts the designs have been approved, contracts have been awarded, materials are being bought, and it is too late to ask for changes. This early scoping comment period is the best time to document our voices and get the attention of the policy makers and designers. When many of us make meaningful inputs, the better we are heard. Our numbers matter!
Construction of the Lynnwood Link Light Rail station has brought a lengthy closure of the Interurban Trail in the Lynnwood area. The detour provided is inadequate for bicyclists. Potential light rail alignments between Lynnwood and Everett appear to use much of the old Interurban Trolley railway that is now our Interurban Trail. The Interurban Trail is the main bicycling arterial linking Everett, Lynnwood, Mount Lake Terrace, Edmonds, and more. We need to ensure the Interurban Trail right of way for bicyclists and pedestrians is respected and ensure any detours are adequate. Your voice through your inputs in this early scoping comments period will help make a difference.
Imagine the satisfaction you will feel when you see the results of your influence take shape as the Everett Link Extension is built and put into use. This action alone will not solve global warming, but your efforts will be a positive step toward making this a better place for all of us to live and ride bikes.
