Brian LeBlanc
The Burke-Gilman Trail runs unbroken from Issaquah to Fremont but ends in Ballard, where conflicts between cyclists, the city and businesses have delayed the completion of the Missing Link.

21st Century Viking: Time for some Missing Link leadership

By Brian LeBlanc
05/03/2010

A friend of mine was leaving town to go back to Finland recently and gave me his bicycle. His generous gift has made me rethink my commute and see the Burke-Gilman Trail and its importance to Ballard through new eyes.

It also makes me even more upset that the politicians who represent us are not providing some leadership to resolve the Missing Link stalemate.

I have written about the Missing Link controversy before, but now that I have become a regular user of the Burke-Gilman Trail, I see the need to resolve this is more important than ever.

The issue is also in the news once again now that Seattle has decided not to appeal the decision by the Superior Court to do an environmental review of the Missing Link proposal and to conduct one instead.

Let me be clear: I want a solution that works for both sides. The industrial businesses along the Missing Link are an important part of the Ballard economy, but the trail users need a safer route.

I also think that if it’s done right, the Missing Link could be an economic boon for Ballard. The problem is that both sides are so deeply committed to their cause and refuse to consider the other side’s opinion that I wonder whether they can come to an amicable solution that will benefit Ballard as a whole.

This is exactly the kind of stalemate situation that needs a public figure to step in and bring everyone together. In fact, this particular situation seems tailor-made for Mayor Mike McGinn. “Mike Bikes,” right?

So where is the mayor on this one? I can’t believe that a guy who got elected because he rides a bicycle has not made this one of his signature issues. If McGinn could bring together both sides and forge a solution that works for Ballard, and by extension Seattle, it would certainly improve his already-battered image.

Rep. Reuven Carlyle has just finished his first term in Olympia. On his Web site, Carlyle said: “We need to find a win-win pathway for freight/commercial and bikes.” Instead of trying to work on an issue that would benefit his district, Carlyle has spent his first term in the legislature working on his nanny-state bill making the use of cell phones while driving a primary offense.

I am calling out McGinn and Carlyle on this one and asking them to provide some leadership.

McGinn, where are you on this issue? I know you’re a busy guy, but Mayor Greg Nickels sure tried to do something about this. I can understand that perhaps you were not allowed to make any comments while it was being litigated, but what about now? The fact that you haven’t made any public comments yet and do not have a plan is really disappointing, but there’s still time.

Carlyle, you and I are in agreement on this issue. While I don’t agree with your cell phone bill, at least you showed some leadership in getting it through the political process. It’s time to take those skills and bring them to bear to help your constituents.

Whatever you may happen to believe about the Missing Link, I think we can all agree that whatever the proposed solution is, it will have a dramatic effect on the shape of Ballard in the 21st Century.

This endless litigation on both sides has gone on long enough. It’s time to find a solution that benefits everyone in Ballard.

Do you have a column suggestion or a comment for Brian Le Blanc? Leave a comment on this story or reach him directly at brianleblanc76@yahoo.com.

  • share
  • Post to Twitter

We encourage our readers to comment. No registration is required. We ask that you keep your comments free of profanity and keep them civil. They are moderated and objectionable comments will be removed.

Comments

The proposal does benefit everyone

Submitted by Michael Snyder (not verified) on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 10:55.

Despite the lawsuits, the original proposal benefits everyone. It gets slow bicycle riders out of the way of those big trucks going down Shilshole and it gives people a safe place to bicycle.

I am reminded of the initial project of the Bicycle Master Plan, the Stone Way road diet. Does anyone remember that? The businesses were afraid that they'd have 30 minute long traffic jams, that customers wouldn't be able to get into their parking lots, and that they'd go out of business. They convinced the mayor to have the project put on hold.

Months later, after we spent a hundreds of hours of volunteer time to prove what we already knew, that traffic volumes weren't a problem, that bicycles made up 10% of the summer commute traffic on that road already, that the existing slowdowns were from turning traffic that would benefit from the road diet, and that it wouldn't cause the problems that the businesses were worried about, SDOT finally implemented the road diet as planned.

Today, Stone Way still isn't seeing 30 minute long traffic jams and Stone Way Hardware, AAA Mailing, and Daly Paint are still in business.

McGinn and Nickels' and Carlyle's leadership

Submitted by Kevin Carrabine (not verified) on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 13:30.

Brian - congratulations on starting to use a bicycle to get around, and your enthusiasm for completing the Burke-Gilman Trail. You are so right that we need a 21st century solution.

A little further digging on your part and you would know:

1- a route was decided in 2003, and one year ago, after years of consultation with businesses and others, a final design for interim and permanent sections of trail was completed.
2 - McGinn, as mayoral candidate, and as Mayor, supports this route - now, SDOT is moving forward with the final piece of environmental analysis - required due to the recent ruling by Superior Court judge Rogers that on all other counts, the City's analysis was complete, but ruled that they must analyze a section they don't intend to build in the near future.
3 - Sections of the designed and funded route would already be completed if the environmental analysis presented by the City had not been challenged by local businesses, as a last ditch effort to halt trail construction. McGinn and others can do nothing, in terms of leadership, to stop someone from suing if that is their intent.
4- Reuven Carlyle can't solve this, unless he can convince the businesses who are suing to drop their lawsuit - though at this point, the judge's ruling requires the City to either do the analysis or appeal to a higher authority. Most trail supporters expect that even when that analysis is done, there will be further efforts to block the trail from being completed. Maybe you and Reuven could talk about how to keep that from happening.

Thanks for writing about this. And make sure you obey traffic laws, be visible, and watch out for pedestrians!