Council adopts Squawk Mountain non‑motorized study, favors sidewalks over uphill bike lane

Issaquah City Council on April 21 approved a project study report for the Squawk Mountain non‑motorized improvements, adopting a preferred concept that emphasizes sidewalks and tree preservation while deferring construction funding to a future biennium.

The administration presented the plan and called for council adoption of the design study report. "The purpose of tonight's item is to seek approval of the project study report for the Squawak Mountain non motorized improvement project by resolution," Transportation Engineering Manager John Mortensen said. The council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.

The study recommends sidewalk on one side of the corridor with a crossing near Upper Hillside Cemetery, selective planter strips where trees and driveways allow, traffic‑calming bulb outs and raised medians, and no uphill bike lane in the preferred concept. Staff said a full curb, landscaped streetscape to meet city code would have required removing a large number of mature trees; one staff estimate cited the difference in cost between adding an uphill bike lane and not at about $2.5 million.

Nut graf: The council adopted a concept that prioritizes pedestrian access and tree preservation over a separate uphill bike lane after community engagement, committee review and cost estimates. Construction is not funded in the current biennium; the administration said it expects staffing capacity to resume work in 2028 and will explore a lower‑cost alternative through 2026 so the project can be considered in future CIP cycles.

Support and process: Mortensen said the project began community outreach in mid‑2023 and advanced two alternatives to the public; the survey split almost evenly, with 51% preferring a bike lane and 49% preferring sidewalk only. The Transportation Advisory Board and the city Mobility and Infrastructure Committee both recommended excluding the uphill bike lane, citing cost and tree impacts. "In order to build the corridor out to the city standard ... it would have a significant impact to trees," Mortensen said.

Cost and alternatives: The preferred curb‑and‑sidewalk concept has an engineering estimate of about $4.6 million plus roughly $1 million or more to underground overhead utilities in the southern segment. City staff described a lower‑cost preferred alternative that would use an asphalt walkway separated from the travel lane by a narrow plastic curb; that option was estimated at roughly $1.6 million but would require purchase of a narrower street sweeper and additional liability and maintenance review.

Council discussion and vote: Council members pressed staff on community outreach, tree impacts and grantability. Council Member Ray, who moved adoption of the resolution, said the committee process produced a usable approach and a template of guardrails for future deviations from street standards. The council voted to adopt Resolution 2025‑10 (mover: Council Member Ray; second: not specified in the record). The resolution carried unanimously, 7‑0.

Next steps: The administration will include the preferred alternative in the next CIP entry and spend up to two years evaluating the lower‑cost asphalt walkway option and additional neighborhood outreach; construction remains unfunded and contingent on future staffing and CIP decisions.

Ending: Council and staff characterized the project as a difficult tradeoff among safety, active‑transportation goals and tree preservation in an established neighborhood, and said further neighborhood engagement is planned before any design contract or construction is authorized.