Renton proposes a variety of new bike paths and bike lanes

Projects were proposed for roadways and neighborhood greenways across the city.

By Cameron Sheppard • February 1, 2024 1:30 am
Courtesy of City of Renton Existing and proposed bike paths and bike lanes in Renton.
Courtesy of City of Renton Existing and proposed bike paths and bike lanes in Renton.

The City of Renton is proposing a variety of new bike trails in neighborhoods across the community as the Renton City Council considers the amendments to the Renton Trails and Bicycle Master Plan.

In 1993, the city adopted a Trails Master Plan, which was updated in 2009 to become the Renton Trails and Bicycle Master Plan pursuant to amendments to the Washington State Growth Management Act, and further updated in 2019. Proposed amendments to the plan came before the Renton City Council during their Jan. 22 meeting.

According to the resolution that came before the council, the amendments are intended “to create and foster further opportunity within Renton and neighboring communities for people to move through the city and to access multiple local and regional destinations including schools, parks, businesses and residential areas.”

The amendment proposes a variety of new roadway bike lanes, bike pathways in neighborhood greenways, shared use paths, and new bike-shared roadways across the city.

Some of the projects marked to be among the highest priority for the city include but are not limited to:

• 116th Avenue SE bike lanes

• Cascade Waterline Spur Trail, a shared walkway and bike path

• Eastside Rail Corridor, a shared walkway and bike path that would span along the East bank of Lake Washington

• Duvall Avenue NE bike lanes

• Edmonds Avenue Connector bike lanes

• Harrington Avenue NE Neighborhood Greenway path

• Lake Washington Loop Trail shared use path

• Soos Creek Trail shared use path

• Houser Way and Factory Avenue protected bike lane

The resolution also included detailed plans for the May Creek Trail, which would extend the trail west of I-405, under I-405, and would connect it with the City of Newcastle’s May Creek Trail.

The project would build the trail through just over 1.5 miles of the May Creek Greenway and would also connect with Pacific Railway Trail.

Based on the document included in the city’s resolution, the trail could be either soft surface, boardwalks, a shared use path, or a combination of all three.

The project, which will require interagency coordination between the City of Renton, the City of Newcastle, King County and WSDOT, has a projected cost of between $100,000 and $500,000.