With Sound Transit’s light rail extension and other regional transit projects occurring adjacent to the campus, the University of Washington is proposing additional transportation planning for the Burke-Gilman Trail beyond the boundaries of the regional transportation projects. MxM team members helped conduct an independent, data-driven assessment of the Burke-Gilman Trail’s capacity across the campus.

Supporting an interdisciplinary team of active transportation planners and civil engineers, our landscape architects developed a strategic approach to the Burke-Gilman Trail through the University of Washington campus that “right-sized” the trail for current and future users to reduce conflicts between people on bikes and people on foot.

Our team looked at discrete sections of trail and forecasted future pedestrian and cyclist trips, then proposed a new trail cross section that would accommodate all users and minimize conflict. The ultimate design made recommendations regarding trail improvements in the overall corridor including trail width, materials, safety standards, lighting and landscaping. Now partially built, the trail offers a much safer, more predictable experience for all users with grade separation between pedestrians and cyclists at key intersections. Overall the trail segments also strive to minimize disturbance to the existing vegetation along the corridor.

Project completed by Brice Maryman while at MIG