Hikers, bikers, and lovers of the great outdoors are in for a treat as the state Legislature beefs up the budget to enhance Bellevue's green footprint. In a move that will knit the community even tighter with nature, a $6.6 million slice of the state's supplemental transportation fund is earmarked for expanding the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail. This update comes courtesy of an announcement from the city of Bellevue.
This cash infusion, part of the 2023-25 budget, is pegged for trail construction between 142nd Place Southeast and 150th Avenue Southeast, ensuring continuous, non-motorized access for those traveling by foot or wheel from the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound. In a statement obtained by Bellevue's official news, Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson expressed gratitude for the partnerships that have turned this trail section from concept to impending reality. "We are gratified to have strong partnerships with our legislators and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust that, make this next phase of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail a reality," she said. Mayor Robinson highlighted the benefits of the trail, emphasizing that it "provides continuous, safe and convenient access for people walking and rolling from the Cascade Mountains all the way to Puget Sound."
Defined as part of the illustrious Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area by Congress in 2019, the trail will link several communities including Seattle, Mercer Island, and Issaquah. The focus now shifts to closing a persisting 3.6-mile gap in Bellevue, between Interstate 405 and Lakemont Boulevard. The city has made strides in completing pieces of the pathway, with sections that stretch from I-405 to 142nd Place Southeast welcoming patrons in recent years.
Financial backing for this environmental and community project isn't just coming from state coffers. Bellevue has hitched its wagon to multiple funding sources, including federal dollars through the Puget Sound Regional Council's Transportation Alternatives Program, which handled the design costs for the newly funded section. Furthermore, the city clinched a $2.37 million federal grant for a chunk of the construction bill, through the Council's Surface Transportation Program. With the state Legislature advancing funds to the current biennium, Bellevue is set to kickstart construction in the latter half of 2025, promoting a greener mode of transport that should appeal to every denizen of the city and beyond.
