Project Overview
This project will construct a 12-foot-wide multi-use pathway on the west side as identified in the 2019 James Street Multimodal Feasibility Study. The project will change road elevation between Orchard and McLeod, add left turn lanes, and upgrade streetlighting to improve safety, as well as reconstruct culverts to improve fish passage.
Project Status 2025
This project is included in the City’s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program, and the City is currently seeking grant funding. However, no start date has been scheduled for this project.
Project Background
James Street is the only north-south transportation corridor serving the King Mountain Neighborhood between Gooding Ave, Squalicum Creek Trail, Sunset Pond Park, and Sunset Square Shopping Center. Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) high-frequency Gold GO Line Route 331 service exists, but traditional sidewalks and bike lanes are not financially feasible. A 12-foot-wide multi-use pathway was identified as the preferred alternative in a 2019 James Street Multimodal Feasibility Study. Significant costs include removal of a vertical curve sight distance issue on the hill between Orchard and McLeod to improve safety, and reconstruction of culverts beneath James St for fish passage improvements.
Funding
This project is currently listed as unfunded in the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program. The City is actively seeking grant funding to support this project.
Contact
General project questions: AskPW@cob.org
