PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

John Selby, Edgewood resident and member of the Interurban Trail Ad-hoc Committee, and Clive Berglund, Auburn resident and member of Rails to Trails, look over the preliminary design for Edgewood’s portion of the trail May 1.

Community discusses trail connection

By Clare Jensen

Edgewood’s portion of the Interurban Trail has been in the works for years. Ad-hoc committees have met, plans have been drawn up and details have been discussed. Grants have also been applied for, but Edgewood has not received the funding it desires at this point.

On May 1, Edgewood applied for a state grant for the third time, which will match $1 million of what the city puts into the project if it is awarded. If the city receives the grant, it should cover the cost of the first of three phases for Edgewood’s portion of the trail.

Public Works Director Dave Lorenzen said the city has not received the grant in the past because it was not at the right stage of planning or independent funding.

Now, the city, along with architectural firm The Portico Group, have a master plan and design for phase one underway, which should give Edgewood a leg up in receiving funding for the project.

Edgewood residents, city staff and trail and cycling enthusiasts met in Edgewood May 1 to get an update on the project.

Jay Rood, a landscape architect and project manager with The Portico Group, said he has been trying to help Edgewood’s case in getting state funding for the project.

Rood said he has “had a lot of discussions with grant agents – they should really not ignore Edgewood.

“It’s about communicating consistently and forcefully…that this connection is important,” he said.

Edgewood’s portion of the trail, specifically the third phase of the project, would connect the city with neighboring Milton and Pacific. Rood said it is an important connection on the path from Seattle south to Fife and Tacoma.

“This is one of the most significant portions of the Interurban between Seattle and Tacoma,” he said.

The history of the railway throughout the area is one of the key highlights and foundation for the trail design, according to Rood.

Rood discussed with city staff and community members at the meeting how aspects of the trail are designed to reflect history by recreating historical buildings (such as a restroom facility modeled after the old Jovita train depot) and historical information that travelers can read along the trail.

The public was updated on the status of phase one, which extends between 114th Avenue and Military Road.

Bicyclists, members of Rails to Trails and other avid trail enthusiasts had a lot of suggestions and input as to what they would like to see in Edgewood, especially in regard to trail users’ safety.

They know from experience that certain types of bollards can be dangerous for cyclists, and loose shoulder material can trip up a roller-blader.

Rood said the design for phase one is 30 percent complete, with the majority of design work to be completed in May.

Lorenzen said grant application is a long review process, and the city will be resubmitting information throughout the summer and fall and will not know if the grant is awarded to Edgewood until November.

Lorenzen said the goal is to have design for phase one 100 percent complete by August.

If the grant is awarded, Lorenzen said the city could put out bids for construction in 2009, completing phase one in 2010.

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