I am signing this petition for  the locally, regionally, and nationally significant bicycle facility managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation: the Burke-Gilman Trail. It was one of the first urban rails to trails conversions 50 years ago! Unfortunately, it has not received adequate capital improvement funding for its northernmost four miles. 
 
This critical four-mile stretch suffers from years of deferred maintenance. Issues include severe root intrusion, crumbling asphalt, and inadequate separation between cyclists and pedestrians. These are no longer just minor inconveniences; they are active safety hazards. In the winter months, poor drainage leads to dangerous pooling and black ice, making the trail unsafe for wheeled users, including children and elderly residents. The edge is deteriorating, overhung by vegetation, slippery, and masks a deep ditch. 

Patchwork maintenance is no longer enough. We need a comprehensive capital upgrade: full repaving, modern root barriers, structural drainage fixes, and safer edges with demarcation. 

The City of Seattle has maintenance responsibility of the Burke-Gilman Trail through the Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Parks and Recreation. We request the City to fund capital improvements for the trail through the Seattle Metropolitan Park District and available grant sources. Please do not let the northern Seattle portion of this historic trail deteriorate any further and allocate appropriate funds for this incredible regional resource. 

Seattle Parks and Recreation is responsible for maintaining an 8-mile portion of the Burke-Gilman Trail from the Seattle city limits on the north extending to Gas Works Park. This city-managed section connects to the King County portion near NE 145th Street, marked by an official Seattle Parks Burke-Gilman Trail sign at the boundary. Seattle DOT takes over at Gas Works Park. The University of Washington has 1.6 miles of the trail between the two Seattle Parks segments.

The current budget for pavement repairs is inadequate, as evidenced by a funding cycle that would require 32 to 40 years to repave the entire trail. For a 50-year-old trail infrastructure, the aging pavement demands far more extensive and immediate maintenance than this limited budget provides.

Please sign our related letter to the local politicians too.   NewMode sends a letter to the policitcans and signs you up for future updates.    If you only want to sign this petition that is fine.   

https://win.newmode.net/seattleparksfoundation/increaseburkegilmantrailcapitalfunding

To learn more and keep up to date go to our blog at  burkegilman50.org