News from the courthouse. Though Judge James Rogers ruled against Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce on eight of nine issues, that ninth issue ripped the wheel out from under us. Judge Rogers remanded the Determination of Non Significance (DNS), requiring a permanent route to be analyzed. In effect, he overturned last year’s decision by Seattle Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner upholding the city’s environmental analysis. The timeline is indeterminiate.
What does this mean? As it’s their stated strategy to keep the Missing Link blocked any way they can, we fully expect the Ballard businesses to appeal the judge’s decision on the other eight issues, which would add further delay and expose more people to injuries.
One step forward, 12 steps back.
Nearly three decades have passed since BNSF abandoned a short rail siding in Ballard and the city of Seattle proposed constructing the facility now known as the Burke-Gilman Trail. During those intervening years, many things have changed in Ballard. What has stayed the same is the decrepit, deteriorating and unsafe conditions between two of Seattle’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
How many more people need to be injured and how much more money must be wasted before progress can be made?
Thank you to everyone who supported and defended the Missing Link over many years. Sadly, we are not done.
[Read more history on the Missing Link hearings...]
Would love to read the opinion. If SDOT really did skimp on their environmental review prior to issuing a DNS as the appellees allege, then shame on them. It’s a setback that could have been avoided entirely.
Hi, fortunately it wasn’t a matter of “skimping.” SDOT extensively studied the route for the project, but the judge ruled that the segment not studied should be because it was identified as the “permanent” or future route, s. Ironically, the appellants just got the city to study putting the trail precisely where those few businesses (Salmon Bay, etc.) do not want it to be.
I think the trail should be put along Ballard Ave. Cut over on 14th making minor improvements (it’s already a double wide street), and then make ballard ave a 1-way the entire way with a bike path in the dead lane. It’d make the street more pleasant for walking and businesses, and you could fit 2 rows of parking and a bike lane if it was all 1 way. The businesses on the street might also not be as against the plan, since they’re more urban consumer oriented.