Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Mountlake Terrace launch regional bike network

According to My Edmonds News, the cities of Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Mountlake Terrace are launching Bike2Health, a collaborative effort to complete 11 critical missing links of the existing regional bicycle network in south Snohomish County (see map).

Funded by a $1.9 million grant from the Verdant Health Commission, the project will improve access to health and wellness choices, make bicycling safer and increase the region’s connectivity. Project design kicks off this month, with construction scheduled to begin in 2016.

Collectively the cities of Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace have completed 23 miles of bicycle network over the past decade; however, much of this construction has been done separately by each city, which has resulted in a segmented bicycle network. This segmentation is one reason cited by residents for choosing to use other methods of travel.

Once complete, Bike2Health will create a regional bicycle network establishing several key north/south and east/west corridors and connecting major destinations (e.g. colleges, civic centers, employment centers, the Interurban Trail, etc.) and transit locations such as Swift bus rapid transit stations, transit centers and the Edmonds Ferry. In total, roughly ten miles of bicycle network will be completed or connected by installing shared lane markings, bicycle route signage and about six miles of new bicycle lanes.