SR-18 Letter Writing Continues

The IATC is asking for your continued support in writing letters asking for the inclusion of wildlife passages, a summit interchange, and recreation considerations in the SR-18 redevelopment design. This project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve wildlife connectivity from the Cascades to the entire Issaquah Alps, enhance recreation infrastructure for all, and provide safe and efficient highway transportation for our region.  Unfortunately, while the current plan proposed by WSDOT this month tries to address important safety concerns, it does not include these key features. 

So far, the trails club has partnered with organizations such as the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, and King County Search and Rescue Association to advocate for this project. We provided a letter to WADOT that includes our requests for the inclusion of these key features, and created a project briefing guide to increase public awareness. 

We still need your help. We are asking members of the public to write letters of support for the inclusion of these features to their representatives. Examples of how to find and contact your representative can be found at: https://www.issaquahalps.org/hwy18-project. 

As we head into a busy spring hiking season in the Issaquah Alps, we are reminded of the importance of continued considerations of things like wildlife connectivity, sustainable recreation access, and safety in getting to and from our hiking trails. The SR-18 redevelopment project provides an opportunity to secure these things for the future as our area continues to grow, but we need to advocate for them now.