Resolution 4492 - Laserfiche WebLink

HISTORY The history of transportation in the Everett area reveals challenges which continue to influence planning today. Prior to 1891 when Everett was founded as an industrial port city, only local Indians and a handful of settlers lived in Mukilteo, Lowell, Snohomish, and the surrounding area. The Tulalip Indians developed a network of foot paths connecting their villages and fishing areas. The wet climate, steep slopes, and erosion prone soils made overland transport by horse impractical; their hooves made the footpaths muddy and impassable. Water transportation was by far the easiest and most common mode of transport. The many channeled estuary at the mouth of the Snohomish River made canoe travel ideal. Canoers could travel effortlessly from present day Everett to Snohomish on the flood tide. It was easier for eastbound travelers from neighboring Seattle to paddle up the Snohomish River, portage past Snoqualmie Falls, and continue over the Cascades than to travel directly overland. For many years, the only"trail"was an unpaved road between Mukilteo and Lowell. The route followed Edgewater Creek up a gulch, continued along the ridge and crisscrossed down the ravines to Lowell. Although built to maintain commerce between the two small towns,the road was impassable much of the year due to the muddy conditions. Another trail connection(path) occurred along the riverfront from Lowell to the base of Hewitt Avenue known as the Turkey Neck trail. This trail too was impassable for much of the year. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1880's spurred speculative development that brought the City of Everett into existence. Its location at the mouth of the Snohomish River made Everett attractive as an industrial center with access to a saltwater port. Although parks were incorporated into the early plans for Everett, trail systems were not. Parks provided open space for passive strolling, while the foothills of the Cascades offered hiking opportunities. The transportation system consisted of the railroad, boats, and unpaved roads. Paved roads for automobiles did not appear until the turn of the century, while the desire for paved trail systems did not develop until after World War II. Studies commissioned in the 1970's and 1980's provided a basis for trail planning that identified ways to further integrate trails into the City's transportation system. Two proposals completed in 1987 spelled out the need for bicycle and pedestrian connections between downtown and the waterfront, and for trails along the Snohomish River. In addition, recent regulations have acknowledged the ecological importance of streams, ravines and wetland systems, which have historically functioned as transportation corridors. Everett's comprehensive trail system faces some of the same challenges faced early on, in addition to addressing more modern issues. Topography and climate still impact the types of trails that will be built and maintained. Concerns about accessibility, safety, and preserving environmentally sensitive areas dictate both trail design and location. In spite of these obstacles, the popularity of existing trails like the Centennial Trails between Snohomish and Arlington make trail construction inevitable. New trail routes and connections to existing systems are increasingly seen as important recreational facilities, and viable alternatives to automobile commuting. In effect, trails represent an increasingly important component of Everett's transportation system. W:\PLANNING\TRAILS\COMP96.DOC 6