Cascade: Mercer Island plan should ‘futureproof’ I-90 Trail, open house Monday

From the draft Aubrey Davis Park Master Plan (PDF)

When the I-90 Trail crosses Mercer Island, it climbs up and through a park created in the 1990s to cover the freeway. Posthumously named after and Island Councilmember and Mayor who negotiated with the state to include the lidded park, Aubrey Davis Park hides what would otherwise have been a freeway trench dividing the island from end-to-end.

Mercer Island is nearing the end of its master plan update for the park, which covers the lid park and the section of the trail east of the town center. Cascade Bicycle Club is urging people to support a "futureproof" I-90 Trail design that follows modern best practices for multi-use trails. You can show up to support the trail in-person at an open house 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Mercer Island Community & Events Center.

Specifically, Cascade is suggesting:

• Right-size the I-90 Trail to fit local and national design standards, so that users experience a seamless trails network across jurisdictions. As national trails standards grow to 14 feet wide, King County is already building well-loved trails to 14 feet to give all users room to safely navigate.

• Make sure this high-use section of trail supports more people (using more modes) to get around the regional trails network.

• Support transit access and through-traffic on the trail as East Link Light Rail and increased bus service come online near the trail's corridor.