Despite plans to break ground in early 2019, there’s still a chance the Burke-Gilman Missing Link could be blocked by a group of Ballard businesses.

The hearing will be on Friday, Dec. 7 at the King County Courthouse (516 3rd Ave) from 9 to 10am. The Cascade Bicycle Club will be defending the appeal, which is being brought by the Ballard Coalition.

In January, the city ruled in favor of a Shilshole Ave NW trail alignment, which is at odds with what the Coalition wants. They say their Leary Ave alignment proposal is much safer — away from the industrial traffic along Shilshole, and with fewer lost parking spots.

“This route, compared to the City’s proposal, provides connections to major biking ‘arterials’, 8th Ave NW and 24th Ave NW, will be part of an area-wide system of bike routes and neighborhood greenways, and provides a safe, separated bike trail,” the Coalition explains on their website about their proposed alternative.

The city’s planned alignment calls for the trail to run from the Ballard Locks along the south side of NW 54th St and NW Market St to 24th Ave NW, where it turns onto Shilshole Ave NW. It would then travel along the south side of Shilshole Ave NW to NW 45th St, and then down the south side of NW 45th St to 11th Ave NW.

From the Cascade Bicycle Club’s announcement of the hearing:

You know the story. The community has fought hard to complete the Missing Link of the Burke-Gilman Trail for decades. Now, on December 7th, Cascade and the Seattle City Attorney are defending an appeal from a few Ballard businesses seeking to block to completion of the Burke Gilman “Missing Link.”

The public hearing is scheduled to start at 9am in Courtroom W-1060.