The story thus far:
* There WAS a plan to spend around $20 million to connect the neighborhoods across Interstate 5 to Maple Leaf and the Northgate transit center and light rail station via a pedestrian and bike bridge from North Seattle College to the station. Got that? (It entirely avoids the word “interagency.”)
* It ran out of money. Specifically, Sound Transit set a July 2015 full funding deadline, after which it would withdraw the $5 million it committed. Seattle failed to get a federal grant, leading to a cliffhanger going into the new year….
* Now the Seattle Bike Blog reports:
In a recent response, Sound Transit staff say they will recommend that their Board extend the deadline to February 2016. While not a huge amount of extra time, it will give leaders more opportunities to identify funding options.
That letter from Sound Transit is here.
As Charles B. commented late last month: “Stay tuned….”
I think it will. The next extension to open is already ahead of schedule and should be operational in less than a year from now. The extension to Northgate is still on schedule.
I will say, I used to not care at all about the bridge and thought it was a waste of money, but I have taken a 180. With the light rail station going in, the growth of North Seattle, and the access to North Seattle Community College, it makes a lot of sense.
I bet the college is excited. Their enrollment should go up (if they can handle it) when the light rail opens up.
Now, when exactly the light rail will open up is whole other topic. It won’t be a matter of being late or not, it’s purely a question of how late 🙂
How do sidewalks between 5th and 15th help people access the station?
Sidewalks, please. We need some sidewalks north of 92nd between 15th and 5th. Pick a street, any street. Or all of them.
Congrats to those who fought long and hard for this. Well done.