The East Lake Sammamish Trail is ready to walk, roll, and bike

King County Parks completed construction of the East Lake Sammamish Trail, its latest contribution to the 44-mile Locks to Lake Corridor that connects Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to Eastside cities and the Cascade foothills with an uninterrupted paved path.

Posted by Bob Yoder, 10/25/2023 

"Washington Bike Law" Represents Injured Bicyclists

 Ten Bicyclists Injured on the Burke-Gilman Trail's “Missing Link"

About Washington Bike Law:

 

Washington Bike Law (WBL) represents injured bicyclists statewide and helps make our streets safer for everyone. WBL was the first law office in the nation to be honored by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bike Friendly Business. Find more at www.washingtonbikelaw.com.

Bike accidents are probable in Redmond:  1) no protected bike lanes, 2) the intersection of Redmond Way and East Lake Sammamish Blvd. is hazardous and potentially deadly.  The City of Redmond could be liable.  (B. Yoder.) 

 

SEATTLE – Ten people injured in bicycle crashes on the "Missing Link" of the Burke-Gilman Trail recently filed claims against the City of Seattle for its failure to make the existing roadway reasonably safe for ordinary travel, according to attorneys representing the individuals. The ten riders suffered varying degrees of injury ranging from contusions to broken bones to traumatic brain injury.

 

Washington Bike Law (WBL) and Schroeter Goldmark & Bender (SGB) are Seattle law firms cooperatively representing the bicyclists. “The aim of the claim notices filed today is not simply to achieve compensation for our clients’ injuries, but to prompt action by the City to prevent more people from being seriously injured by this known danger,” said SGB attorney Adam Berger.

 

The Missing Link is a 1.4-mile stretch in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood where the Burke-Gilman Trail abruptly ends, sending bicyclists onto streets that are still not reasonably safe for travel by bicycle. The ten bicyclists were all injured where many others have crashed before them: the Missing Link’s “Crash Zone,” a dangerous railroad crossing under the Ballard Bridge.

 

WBL’s Bob Anderton has represented multiple bicyclists injured in this same Crash Zone dating as far back as 2001. 

"Bear Creek Bridge" Connects Trails

The middle of the bridge is right over Bear Creek.
Two cranes positioned the bridge / credit B. Yoder
Click the image to enlarge - do you see the creek?

Thank you for your inquiry, Bob.  The bridge is a new pedestrian and bike bridge that will cross Bear Creek and connect the East Lake Sammamish Trail to the Bear Creek Trail. It is being constructed as part of the Sound Transit project.

For more information on Sound Transit and the system expansion in our regional areas, please visit https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist with.

Thank you,
Heather Burtsche
Customer Experience
info@redmond.gov

Council To Allocate $2.8 Million To Central Trail Connector Project

Internet

$2.8M of the 2021-2022 General Fund will be allocated to the Redmond Central Connector Phase III project. 

Phase 3 of the project will add the remaining 1.6 miles of hard-surface trail. Once Phase III, Phase IV and Phase V are completed, the trail will connect with over 60 miles of regional trails and will be the key regional link from Redmond to Sammamish and Kirkland.

Phase III 

• 1.6-mile segment is in the planning phase. 

• Will connect the Phase II trail near Overlake Christian Church to NE 124th Street at the Kirkland border. 

• This phase is partially funded with an appropriation from the state and city capital funds. The City is currently seeking additional funds for the project. 

• In the future, Sound Transit and regional utilities may construct facilities adjacent to the trail.

• Downtown and the Willows business district expect a combined increase of 10,000 residents and 20,000 jobs by 2020, and the Connector provides an alternative route to move between these areas.

--Council Regular Meeting notes, 8/16/2021

Exciting New Redmond Tunnel Opens

 

Move Redmond.org

A new tunnel under SR520  (video) in Redmond "adds some topical flair to the ride and connects the Regional  Trail and Transit System."  

-- Move Redmond, 6/5/2021

Un-named City Trail Is A Gem

One of the great things about Redmond is its neighborhood trails!  Lately I've been extremely stressed by the insurrection, pandemic and my personal health care issues.  Hiking on this forested trail, and others, is my "best personal practice" for dealing with stress and improving my mental health.  

 I was on a trail today leading me to this forest. Highly recommended -  birds flitting in thickets, no bikes, few hikers, greenery - a gem.  It's a mile or so.  The trailhead is at 104th / flashing crosswalk. It first parallels the western fencing of Redmond High School.  The forest  thickens as you approach the Emerald Heights western fencing.  Buffered residential properties are on the West.  

About two days ago we had blustery rain storm that dropped a tree on the trail; I had to turn back.  (I was surprised the trail was in Redmond's jurisdiction.)  Had it not been obstructed one can hike to the street, take  about 60 steps up the hill, then jag off the street to the trail on the right. The trail ends at 111th Street.  From there I walk to 166th and home.  

The trail is still closed owing to tree removal.  - 1/29/2021. It's taped off at 104th now too. 

Happy hiking!  Bob Yoder, 1/15/2021

Phase 2 construction of the Redmond Central Connector advances

Looking north from 95th Street towards Overlake Christian Church
Busy Willows Road is on the left.  Commercial on the right. (click pic to enlarge)

Several amenities are only minutes from the trail by bike at this 95th Street location.  Black Raven Brewery, Hi-Fi Brewery, Eastside Gym, Willows Deli  Good stopping place!

This Redmond Central Connector is the artery of the City that links Sammamish, Redmond, and Kirkland and knits together Redmond Town Center, historic Downtown, Grass Lawn neighborhood, and Willows business district. (COR)

Redmond's Senior Park Planner, David Shaw is the narrator in this city video.  He works closely with Carolyn Hope, Manager of Parks and Culture.  Both designed and built the Redmond Bike Park.  David managed the construction, recruiting and directing scores of volunteers. (The Randall family was at the core of the park's development. Councilmember Hank Myers put in a day or two of shoveling.) 

Updated, 6/2017, Redmond Bike Park Update - Unauthorized trail building must cease

Dear Redmond Bike Park Followers:  (from Carolyn Hope, City Parks Planner)

This week at the bike park, some of our staff and volunteer trail stewards will be making safety improvements to the existing features.  There has been a considerable amount of unauthorized trail building at the site, this needs to stop, please help spread the word on this.  The City has worked hard to try to maintain a safe park experience at this site for bikers and walkers. The development of this park is a pilot of a community/city partnership and we need your cooperation and assistance to make this project successful. If you like to build jump and bike features, please contact me so we can put your skills to work in a way that benefits the project.  However, until we have permits in hand, we are only maintaining what we have, not building out the proposed bike park plans.  For example,  this past weekend someone built a starting ramp/berm along the sidewalk from Hartman park to enter the main jump line – this is a completely unsafe condition, as it crosses the Ashford Trail, a major pedestrian route.  As a result, our staff and volunteers will replace the berm with a small start hill south of the Ashford Trail near the first jump in attempt to avoid having people riding from the Hartman Park entrance.

As you may know, the City is proceeding with a redesign on the Redmond Bike Park per the conditions of a settlement agreement with the appellants of the proposed project.  We expect to have the revised plans and permits ready in early August and if all goes well, we hope to build the park with your help in the fall, likely beginning in October.

Please contact me if you would like to volunteer as a trail steward or if you would like any additional information. 

Thank you!

Carolyn Hope

Park Planning & Cultural Services Manager

Editor's note:  Development of the park was not without controversy.  The Katz's house bordered the park site. They and other of their neighbors outcryed about tree loss and noise that would come with the proposed park. A website was even made to generate neighborhood support. On several occasions I noticed Councilmember Stilin having coffee at Soulfood with Mr. Katz.  Final project approval ended up at the Hearing Examiner level in City Hall with Mr. Katz and a neighbor talking for days and hours with the Examiner.  Litigation cost the city thousands and thousands. The result was positive for Mr. Katz and his neighbors.  The bicycle ramps and routes were smaller resulting a larger neighborhood buffer.  With a smaller, more youth oriented park with smaller launches the "bad elements" of the city were less likely to be drawn in.  Development of the park went far over budget....I think around $70M.

EDITORIAL: Reaching out to our neighbors, sharing our cultures

Japanese tour guide translates for
PCC-Redmond grocery store manager, Celeste

thanks to BJ Eliason for his help with the tiny churches, co-owner Discover Yoga

EDITORIAL (updated):  One of my goals for this blog is to acknowledge and value Redmond international residents and the wealth of culture, business and grace they bring to our fair city and neighborhoods.  Since Redmond's founding a hundred years ago, the city has moved far beyond it's native American - pioneer horse culture.  Today, Microsoft and many other Greater Redmond tech companies expand our cultural and international diversity exponentially by hiring globally.

The 2010 census figures for Redmond, WA  puts a handle on it:    

• Redmond residents:  61% white not Hispanic, 1.7% black, 25% Asian, 8% Hispanic or Latino, 4% mixed-race, and 0.6% American or Alaskan Indian/islander.    
• Other tidbits:  Redmond's Asian population is 4 times larger than the average WA population.  Of the Asian race, almost 12% are East Indian; percent of Arab nations are unknown. 
• Foreign born persons living in Redmond are 29% of households. 
• Language other than English spoken at home in 33% of households. (age 5+)
• Redmond business:  Asian-owned firms (2007) 13%.  Hispanic owned firms (2007) 3% 
• Median household income (2006-2010):  $88,194.  
• Population:  54,155 (non-working hours),  20% increase last 10 years.

Foreign-born often residents often find company and  "neighborhood" in their church and community centers. The Vedic Cultural Center of Sammamish (Hindu) and  MAPS Community Center of Redmond (Muslim) are grand, open gathering-places.  The newer Buddist Temple, Lwat Atam on Redmond-Woodinville Rd.  On the smallest scale, Read More >>

Puget Sound Energy Powerline Project Impacts Trail, Parks and Creek

Puget Powerline Easement (Trail) looking East near the Redmond Watershed Preserve.  A wetland in the foreground is protected by orange fencing.  Three miles of easement X 100 feet wide will be cleared  to make room for a new transmission line needed to accomodate growth. 

Sound Energy Project Update:

"Puget Sound Energy plans to build a new 115 kilovolt transmission line in the Novelty Hill area of unincorporated King County. We will construct the new line within our existing cross-country transmission line corridor between NE Novelty Hill Road and Avondale Road NE. We will not expand the corridor size, but will need to clear some trees to accommodate the new line."  PSE

This project is expected to be completed by the end of September with restoration of a portion of the Bear Creek buffer & the wetlands throughout the year.   Read City or Redmond web announcement.

Posted / Photo by Yoder
A mountain biker tipped me on this story. 

East Redmond Park & Trail Corridor Plan

Eastern Corridor Park Property Master Plan - "String of Pearls"

The City of Redmond Parks and Recreation recently held its first of two community workshops on our Eastern Corridor of parks and trails. Linkage of five creek-lined, parks with trails and ideas for "best uses" were discussed. Parks planner, Linda Frkuska facilitated the meeting stating: "This collection of Parks is a tremendous asset to Redmond and we want to make sure we are shaping them for the people that will use and enjoy them.". The Eastern Corridor parks, from north to south, are Juel Community Park, Ferrel-McWhirter, Conrad Olson, Perrigo and Arthur Johnson. Approximately 20 citizens attended, including councilmembers Nancy McCormick and briefly, Hank Margeson. Hank was past Vice-chair of the Parks Commission. Hank's family enjoys the Pony Club at Ferrel-McWhirter and soccer fields at Perrigo. Three citizen interest groups were noticeably present:

• Equestrian interests - horse trails at Juel and Perrigo; preference for soft trails; a covered arena at Farrel-McWhirter; signage to warn mountain bikers near the Avondale-PS trail.
• Bear and Evans Creek natural area interests - pervious, narrower trails; attention to the preserving the natural environment; environmental education; trail location & best use.
• Sports interests - Cricket use of Juel Park. Disc golf at Juel. Mountain biking clubs did not attend.

Guy Mikelson, a Seattle consultant of Berger Partnership, led discussion by suggesting three themes for the eastern corridor: 1) history, 2) environmental, 3) "linear arboretum" . Bear and Evans Creek riparian habitat touches all five parks and is the signature piece connecting all parks. Historical buildings add interest and possible uses by "artists in residence" and heritage exhibits.

Miguel Llanos, Redmond Historical Vice President, recommended signage along the future connecting trail to explain the area’s natural (salmon and other wildlife) and human (Native Americans, loggers, farmers) heritage. He suggested the historic Conrad Olsen barn, Juel house and Perrigo Park barn as possible locations for heritage displays and a quasi-museum.

Citizens having interests in using this corridor should contact the Parks Commission or a staff. A final meeting will be held on Thursday, June 5th, 7pm, Old Redmond School House Community Center. Public is invited.  

-- Bob Yoder & Richard Morris, Education Hill neighborhood