Ballard Multimodal Corridor

Updated: March 4, 2019

Overview

The Ballard Multimodal corridor includes several transportation investments in the Ballard community. This suite of investments was developed in consultation with the community and evolved from initial conversations about the Burke-Gilman Trail Missing Link Project. Improvements identified by trail users, truck drivers, the industrial community, and nearby neighbors identified opportunities to design a complete, multimodal corridor along the Ship Canal between the Ballard Locks and 11th Ave NW.

These improvements include new pavement on some roadways, driveway enhancements, new signals, new utility and drainage infrastructure, and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure. Design of the Ballard Multimodal Corridor improvements recognize the importance of Ballard’s manufacturing and industrial community and will maintain truck and freight access to the industrial and water-dependent businesses adjacent to the corridor.

Taking a big-picture look at the full extent of the corridor during the design phase for the Missing Link also helped identify opportunities to partner with other projects and agencies to be more efficient with public funding. Packaging projects in the same area together can help us get them done more quickly and reduce construction impacts on travelers and nearby properties.

History of the Burke-Gilman Trail Project

The Burke-Gilman Trail is a regional, mixed-use facility that runs east from Golden Gardens Park in Seattle to the Sammamish River Trail in Bothell. The 20-mile trail serves as a major transportation corridor for commuters and recreational users. The trail is complete except for a 1.4-mile segment through the Ballard neighborhood, known as the "Missing Link." The Missing Link has been included in the City's comprehensive plan since the early 1990s and is identified as one of the City of Seattle's top-rated trail priorities in the 2014 Bicycle Master Plan. The City is devoted to completing the Missing Link fulfill its commitment to the community and to be most efficient with taxpayer dollars. 

Throughout the environmental review process, SDOT sought input from the community on potential routes and impacts through events and formal comment periods. Commenters on the Missing Link Project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) expressed a strong preference for placing the route along Shilshole Ave NW. Of the over 4,400 comments received on the Draft EIS, 77% noted preference for the Shilshole South Alternative. However, a number of comments expressed concerns over placing the trail in front of the industrial and water-dependent businesses along the Shilshole corridor. 

To inform SDOT's selection of a preferred corridor, SDOT further consulted with the local maritime, industrial, freight, bicycle, and pedestrian communities to select the Preferred Alternative, a combination of the Shilshole South and Shilshole North Alternatives. To learn more, read the project's frequently asked questions and answers.

Completing the Burke-Gilman Trail will create a complete and predictable corridor that enhances safety for pedestrians, trucks, bicycles, and cars.

Conversations with stakeholders, property owners, and business owners during design of the Missing Link highlighted many opportunities to partner with other agencies and enhance streets adjacent to the trail.

Public Involvement

To ensure the Ballard Multimodal Corridor was designed safely and in a way that worked for all users, the project team worked with many stakeholders, including local workers and freight drivers, property and business owners, trail users, and members of the industrial and maritime communities.

The Burke-Gilman Trail Missing Link and other multimodal improvements went through extensive environmental review that provided the community with many opportunities to learn more about potential route options and submit comments. In addition to outreach to key stakeholders and community groups throughout the environmental phase, public open houses were held in 2013, 2015, and 2016 to solicit input from the broader community on the Missing Link Project.

Design Advisory Committee

Throughout the design of the Ballard Multimodal and Missing Link Corridor, SDOT convened a Design Advisory Committee (DAC) to bring additional stakeholder perspectives. The DAC was convened following the completion of the final environmental review and the City's selection of a preferred route. DAC members met between May 2017 - September 2018 to provide feedback on SDOT's preferred alignment to improve trail design and balance the safety and needs of all users. 

For more information, see the DAC work plan. and Business Owner Workshops.

Property and Business Owner Workshops 

In late June and early July 2017, the SDOT design team hosted workshops for business and property owners adjacent to the trail. SDOT held a follow-up workshop in late September 2017 to review the input received at previous workshops and to highlight changes implemented based on property and business owners' feedback.

The  Project History documents much of the public involvement associated with the Missing Link, including past reports and designs.

Anticipated Construction Timeline

Construction on the complete Ballard Multimodal Corridor is anticipated to be completed by Q4 - 2020.

Project Cost

As we heard more from the community during the design of the Missing Link, the project evolved into a full multimodal corridor that improves access and predictability for many different corridor users. This provided the opportunity to partner with other projects and be as efficient as possible with taxpayer dollars. 

Missing Link design and construction corridor improvements are anticipated to cost approximately $26.4 million. Of the $26.4 million, approximately $7.2 million is dedicated to constructing the trail extension. The remainder of the expected costs will cover other corridor improvements including expedited street paving along Market St (originally pat of the Market St RapidRide project), new traffic signals on Shilshole, updated Metro trolley infrastructure, improved pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks, a new access road, utility and railroad improvements, and new stormwater infrastructure. Funding for the additional scope elements come from a variety of partnerships and programs. A summary of the budget and funding sources can be found here. In addition to these costs, approximately $2.75 million was spent to conduct the environmental review and prepare the Environmental Impact Statement.

Environmental Review

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published on May 25, 2017.

Upon further evaluation of the merits of each alternative, and in consideration of the public comments received and additional studies conducted after publishing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS), SDOT developed a Preferred Alternative. From the Ballard Locks, the Preferred Alternative route travels:

• Along the south side of NW 54th St and NW Market St to 24th Ave NW, where it turns onto Shilshole Ave NW
• Along the south side of Shilshole Ave NW to NW 45th St
• Along the south side of NW 45th St to 11th Ave NW

Appeals were filed challenging the FEIS. The City's Hearing Examiner found the FEIS to be adequate and the King County Superior Court found it to be adequate in nearly all aspects, but required SDOT to perform additional analysis regarding the potential economic impacts to businesses related to potential conflicts between industrial traffic and trail users. That additional review is underway and is expected to be completed in Spring 2019.

Review the Final EIS.

You can also review it in print at the following locations:

• Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections Public Resources Center
• Seattle Public Libraries:
  • Central Library
  • Ballard Branch
  • University Branch
  • Fremont Branch
  • Wallingford Branch
  • Greenwood Branch
  • Magnolia Branch
  • Queen Anne Branch
  • University of Washington Suzzallo Library, UW Campus
  • Ballard Neighborhood Customer Service Center

Printed copies of the Final EIS Executive Summary are available to the public at no charge. Printed copies of the Final EIS, comment responses, and technical appendices are available for purchase by calling (206) 684-5000 or emailing BGT_MissingLink@seattle.gov.

See Project History for more background on the environmental review process.

Materials

• Fact sheet
• Map
• Construction Phasing Map
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
• Missing Link Graphic Design Plans (95%)
• Design Phase Outreach Summary

Design Advisory Committee (DAC)

• DAC Work Plan
• DAC Membership
• DAC Charter (adopted June 15, 2017)
• DAC Meeting Materials
  • Meeting #1 — May 4, 2017
    • Meeting #1 Agenda
    • Final Meeting #1 Summary
  • Meeting #2 — May 25, 2017
    • Meeting #2 Agenda
    • Missing Link Project Overview (Presentation)
    • Final Meeting #2 Summary
  • Meeting #3 — June 15, 2017
    • Meeting #3 Agenda
    • Final Meeting #3 Summary
  • Meeting #4 — July 27, 2017
    • Meeting #4 Agenda
    • Update on Corridor Outreach and Missing Link Design (Presentation)
    • Final Meeting #4 Summary
  • Meeting #5 — August 17, 2017
    • Meeting #5 Agenda
    • Update on Missing Link Design (Presentation)
    • Final Meeting #5 Summary
  • Meeting #6 — September 28, 2017
    • Meeting #6 Agenda
    • Update on Missing Link Design (Presentation)
    • Final Meeting #6 Summary
  • Driveway Refinement Field Test — October 2, 2017
    • Final Summary
  • Meeting #7 — October 26, 2017
    • Meeting #7 Agenda
    • Update on Missing Link Design (Presentation)
    • Final Meeting #7 Summary
  • Meeting #8 — December 15, 2017
    • Meeting #8 Agenda
    • Final Meeting #8 Summary
    • Update on Missing Link Design (Presentation)
  • Meeting #9 — February 1, 2018
    • Meeting #9 Agenda
    • Final Meeting #9 Summary
    • Update on Missing Link Design (Presentation)
  • Meeting #10 — September 13, 2018
    • Meeting #10 Agenda
    • Final Meeting #10 Summary
    • Update on Missing Link Design (Presentation)

Property Owner, Business Owner, and Public Events

Outreach completed to date

Conceptual Design Segment Workshop series for adjacent property and business owners

• Segment Workshop Overview
• Workshop Boards
• Segment 1 Workshop Presentation (June 27, 2017)
• Segment 2 Workshop Presentation (June 29, 2017)
• Segment 3 Workshop Presentation (July 11, 2017)
• All Segment Workshop Presentation (September 28, 2017)
• Segment workshops flyer

Conceptual Design Outreach (July 2017)

• Public Event Overview
• Online Open House Overview (July 10-23, 2017)
• Public Event Boards
• Public Event Presentation
• Online Open House Content
• Conceptual Design Outreach Overview

Schematic Design Outreach (October 2017)

• Public Event Overview
• Online Open House Overview (October 9-23, 2017)
• Self-guided Walking Tour Overview (October 14, 2017)
• Public Event Boards
• Public Event Presentation
• Online Open House Content (October 9-23, 2017)
• Self-guided Walking Tour Guide
• Schematic Design Outreach Overview