The Port of Vancouver on Tuesday opened a simple new segment of the pedestrian path it means to extend from downtown Vancouver all the way out Lower River Road to Vancouver Lake. And, it announced $500,000 in public funding for construction of the next segment — which won’t be simple at all, as it rises into the air to pass over sensitive wetlands.
About a hundred people — many of them on two wheels and in spandex — turned out for the pathway ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was held at the new terminus of the continuous path. That’s on the south side of Lower River Road, just short of 32nd Avenue, where the Port of Vancouver headquarters sits. The new segment, which is one-half mile long and 12 feet wide, now permits cyclists and walkers to safely journey along the south side of Mill Plain out of downtown, completely separated from traffic on busy and fast-moving Lower River Road.
But it only gets them as far as the port offices, with miles yet to go until you reach Vancouver Lake. Cyclists who want to continue out to the lake must leave the path, cross the busy street and squeeze into the shoulder on the north side. There’s no crosswalk or traffic light here on Lower River Road — which is owned by the state, and also known as state Highway 501 — and no plans for one, according to port officials.
Instead, the port plans to keep extending the south-side path toward Vancouver Lake. On Tuesday, it announced a state grant of $500,000 and an additional contribution of $300,000 of its own money to start working on the next pathway segment — which will be a lot more challenging to build.
That’s because it will traverse one-third of a mile of sensitive, protected wetlands. To get across that stretch, port general project manager Ben Shoop said, the port will design an elevated path that passes over the wetlands. While it’s at it, Shoop said, the port hopes to include an information kiosk and an artistic bench where travelers can take a break and admire the view.
The port hopes to break ground on this next segment late this year or early in 2016.
Farwest Steel recently built its own new path segment as part of a whole new factory on Lower River Road — but right now that segment remains unconnected to any other segment of path. It begins and ends with roadway shoulder.
“There are holes in it, but the long-term plan is great,” said Steve Trinkle, who rode out to the Tuesday celebration from downtown, as part of a delegation from the Vancouver Bike Club. “It’s a great area for riding. We love going out and enjoying the scenery. It’ll be great when there’s a safe way to ride all the way out there.”
“When it’s finished, it’ll be a fabulous asset for our region,” said Madeleine Von Laue, vice chairwoman of a county Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee that aims to keep local planners mindful of bicycle and pedestrian needs as they develop and evaluate new projects.
Vancouver City Councilwoman Alishia Topper said she appreciates the way a huge stretch of the Vancouver waterfront, from I-205 all the way out to Frenchman’s Bar, is open to pedestrians and cyclists these days. She said she’d love to attend a similar ribbon-cutting every year until the port path is complete.
“We’re not done yet,” said port spokeswoman Abbi Russell. “We have a lot of work left to do.”
