Alternatives for 65th
What bicycling infrastructure would you like to see on NE 65th Street -- a cycle track, a greenway, maybe both? The Seattle Department of Transportation is seeking your input as it considers four alternatives to NE 65th Street. Please take a moment to take their survey and share your thoughts with them.
When the city released the Seattle Bike Master Plan draft in June, the proposed network map called for a protected bike lane, a.k.a. cycle track, along NE 65th Street. But a few entrenched interests pushed hard to stop this project. As a result, SDOT received more comments on the NE 65th Street protected bike lane than any other project proposed in the draft Bicycle Master Plan Update.
After considering public comments to the draft Bicycle Master Plan network map, SDOT has developed four alternative east-to-west bicycle routes to serve people of all ages and abilities that could be considered for the final bicycle network map in the BMP Update.
Alternative A: protected bike lane from Greenlake to Magnuson Park -- the initial recommendation for NE 65th Street that was in the June draft network map.
Alternative B: a shortened cycle track on NE 65th Street between E Green Lake Way N and NE 35th St.
Alternative C: a combination of a cycle track and neighborhood greenways for the east-west connection.
- Cycle track on NE 65th Street between NE Ravenna Blvd and 20th Ave NE, to provide good bicycle connectivity across I-5, to/from the future Roosevelt Light Rail Station, and the Roosevelt business district. There would be no cycle track east of 20th Avenue NE on NE 65th.
- Cycle track on NE 20th Street between NE 65th Street and NE 68th Street to connect to the proposed citywide neighborhood greenway on NE 68th Street, creating a primary east-west bicycle connection with a combination of cycle track on NE 65th Street and a neighborhood greenway on NE 68th Street.
Alternative D proposes the removal of a cycle track on NE 65th Street entirely and replaces it with the following east-west bicycle connections:
- Cycle track added to Weedin Place NE to allow for safe east-west crossing of I-5 (as an alternative to using NE 65th Street). Under this alternative, there would be no improved bicycle connectivity or access along NE 65th Street, though SDOT may study NE 65th Street for broader safety improvements in the future.
- No cycle track on NE 35th Street—would be replaced by a citywide neighborhood greenway on 39th Avenue NE.
- A citywide neighborhood greenway using residential streets and a crossing under I-5 to provide an east-west connection south of NE 65th Street on NE 64th Street, NE 62nd Street and NE 60th Street.
From SDOT:
When reviewing the alternatives, notice they include the removal of the earlier proposed cycle track on NE Ravenna Boulevard between 15th Avenue NE and NE 55th Street and replace it with an existing off-street trail through Cowen/Ravenna Park to a neighborhood greenway on NE 57th Street to a proposed off-street trail along the edge of lower Ravenna Park to a proposed cycle track on NE 55th Street which leads to the Burke-Gilman Trail.
This feedback provides SDOT a sense of the local community's priorities and vision for the future. This input will be considered and balanced with the need to create a connected network across the entire city to establish the final network map.
Considerations in developing these alternatives and making a final recommendation will be based on:
- Safety for people using all modes of transportation
- Transit speed and reliability
- Access to the new Roosevelt light rail station
- Access and loading at Ida Culver House, businesses, and other properties
- Provision of a connected east-west bicycle route serving people of all ages and abilities
We prefer Alternative A, the initial proposal for NE 65th St, as it is the only direct, cross-city connection for riders of all ages and abilities.
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