Regional Trail Access

Residents' proximity to regional trails

About this Measure: Regional trails in King County are important public amenities providing active recreation opportunities and regional mobility. The Regional Trails System is 300 miles of paved and unpaved greenways. The King County Parks Division has developed and/or maintains the majority of these facilities.

2008 results: 69% of county residents live within 1.5 miles of the Regional Trail system

2008 target: 70% of county residents live within 1.5 miles of the Regional Trail system

2009 target: See detailed description below

Going into 2009, four measures will be referenced to track and report on progress toward developing the King County Regional Trail System:

1. 1) access and proximity to population;
2. 2) closing existing gaps in the network;
3. 3) redevelopment/upgrading of older existing trails; and
4. 4) ensuring safe trail bridges.

Proximity: the proximity of regional trails to populations within King County is an important measure of their accessibility. Generally, the closer a trail is to populations, the more likely people will be to use them and enjoy their benefits. These benefits include:

1. 1) active recreation open space greenways for walking, jogging, bicycling, skating, and other recreational activities; and
2. 2) nonmotorized mobility/commuting to work and school.

Starting in 2009 we have selected a distance of one mile from a regional trail as the standard measure of proximity.

Closing Gaps: closing gaps in the network is critical to its overall functioning, particularly for regional mobility and commuting. Gaps may take the form of short trail segments, as yet uncompleted, linking longer segments that serve larger populations or longer trail segments that have yet to be developed.

Redeveloping Important Corridors: some trails are decades old and reaching the limit of their capacity to handle many users efficiently and safely. Updated guidelines and standards now provide enhanced and safer facilities that accommodate more trail users.

Safe Bridges: the Parks Division monitors and maintains 73 bridges and trestles as part of the RTS. These structures need periodic repair or rebuilding in order to ensure their integrity and safety.

Regional Trail Development Process

RTS facilities are similar to roadways — lengthy paved or compacted gravel thoroughfares running in linear open space corridors. Like roads, their development process includes planning, design, permitting, and construction. This process can take years under the best of circumstances. Many trails are located within or near sensitive habitats where development requires more unique structures, additional permitting requirements, and extensive environmental mitigation. These performance measures address both essential stages of pre-construction (planning/design/permitting), construction, and close-out.

Performance anticipated in 2009

We will track and report on upcoming Regional Trail System improvements through the lenses of proximity/system distribution, gaps, redevelopment, and bridge resiliency.

Currently 60.5% of King County residents currently live within one mile of a regional trail. This percentage continues to grow year by year, although growth may be variable due to limitations of urban development. Filling critical trail system gaps and redevelopment/upgrading trails also indicate progress, as these activities enhance the network, increase its capacity, and improve safety.

The table shows anticipated activities for 2009 and beyond in closing gaps, redeveloping/upgrading trails, and ensuring that bridges are safe for travel.

The following Regional Trails System projects are either under construction or in planning/design/ permitting stages. Activities under Target 2009 are anticipated to be completed in 2009.

Regional Trails Project Construction Activities — 2009

Pre-Construction Complete
(2009 Design and Permiting Actions)

As the table indicates, a number of construction projects addressing gaps are anticipated to be completed in 2009. These include two King County's projects — Marymoor Connector and Green River trails, a WSDOT project — Issaquah-Preston Trail from High Point toward Preston; and Bothell's filling a gap on the North Creek Trail. The redevelopment of the Burke-Gilman Trail in east Kenmore should also be completed by Kenmore and King County. In addition, construction should be completed on two King County RTS bridges — Dorre Don and Griffen Creek. A third bridge over the Tolt River should be under construction but not yet completed.

Pre-construction progress includes design and permitting for new trails such as King County's Soos Creek Trail, Phases 5 and 6 to link to the Cedar River Trail; King County's Foothills Trail near Enumclaw; portions of the Two Rivers and Westside trails in south County (Lake to Sound corridor); and East Lake Sammamish Trail at SR520. Pre-construction activities should be completed for two of these projects in 2009.

Pre-construction activities for redevelopment/upgrade projects includes the development of King County's "master planned" East Lake Sammamish trail in Redmond, Issaquah, and Sammamish (distinct phases); the County's redevelopment of the Burke-Gilman Trail (Lake Forest Park); and feasibility for developing the Lake to Sound Trail corridor through Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Des Moines. Pre-construction projects anticipated to be completed in 2009 are shown.

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