Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

Washington State is developing a plan for a statewide “cycle highway” network to connect bike routes and trails for “a seamless and safe biking network,” reports Karen James in Momentum. 

According to James, “One of the main challenges facing Washington’s current bike infrastructure is the lack of connections between existing trails. Many of the state’s best bike routes, such as the Burke-Gilman and Centennial Trails, are isolated, making it difficult for cyclists to travel long distances without encountering unsafe or disconnected stretches of road.”

To make biking more accessible and safer, the state has committed $46.5 million in funding over the next two years and an additional $100 million through 2031. The funding is aimed at closing gaps in the bike network and improving connections between existing trails.

The state is also developing regional “super trails” such as the Leafline Trail network in the Puget Sound region, which is expected to grow from its current 450 miles to 900 miles. “This trail network connects communities, transit stations, and major destinations, making it a model for what a connected, statewide system could look like.”