Link Transit Looking at Grant to Build Walking Bridge Near Maple Street

Link Transit has completed a pre-application for a grant to build a pedestrian bridge that would potentially span Wenatchee Avenue and the downtown railroad tracks, connecting the Maple Street area to the Town Toyota Center.

CEO Richard DeRock said the regionability grant, also known as a state transit grant, would pay about $4.8 million of the estimated $6 million project that used to be part of the Confluence Parkway proposal.

A pedestrian bridge addresses the issue of poor pedestrian and bike access to the Town Toyota Center and Walla Point Park from the Maple Street area. As Link Transit expands its service plan, more riders will be funneled into the North Wenatchee Avenue corridor, meaning more pedestrian access to and from the area would be useful.

Funding is based on the project's ability to reduce vehicle miles traveled, which is classically a tougher ask in more rural areas.

"There is a parcel that's for sale (near the Post Office property at 1050 Maple Street). It's actually just about the right length we think if you did a circular ramp or a curved ramp for the bike access." explained DeRock, "It's available and it's not being used so we thought that might actually be a good place to have the ramp start."

If the property near the Post Office does not work out, DeRock said a ramp could connect to the sidewalk or the Winco area.

Link has 60 days for its engineers take stock of the project's feasibility and submit an application.

As part of Link's proposal for the grant, DeRock adds that a pedestrian bridge would reduce the need for Link service to the Walla Walla Point Park area.