Kirk McKinley retires from City of Shoreline

Kirk McKinley retires

Kirk McKinley, Transportation Planning Manager for the City of Shoreline, retired on July 6, 2015 after 19 years of service.

Kirk began his career with the City of Shoreline in July of 1996, shortly after incorporation at a time when the City was hiring staff to make many of the changes we see today. Kirk was hired as a Transportation Planner in the Planning and Community Development Department.  He moved from that position to Transportation Planning Manager and then to Long Range Planning Manager.

When the Interurban Trail and Aurora projects were in the pre-design stage and having a difficult time getting off the ground, Kirk was promoted to the Aurora and Interurban Trail Program Manager and he and the projects were moved to the Public Works Department.

In recent years, Kirk has served as Transportation Services Manager / Transportation Planning Manager and was a significant force in other projects such as Point Wells mitigation and the initial concepts to bring about a 145th Street corridor study and a chance for real change along Shoreline’s southern border at a critical time when light rail is coming and traffic volumes will increase. Kirk also served on numerous committees, regionally keeping Shoreline concerns in the forefront.

Over the years, the projects Kirk worked on required a lot of resourceful thinking and funding strategies to become a reality. The differences Kirk made will be a continuing reminder of what can be achieved.

Kirk can leave Shoreline very proud of the successes he has helped to realize.  Those that knew him understood that some of his greater personal successes were nurturing confidence in staff and allowing them to grow and advance in their own successes.  

Kirk also maintained close ties with the Shoreline neighborhood associations, often serving as guest speaker to provide updates on projects affecting the neighborhood.