Honoring service members
This Memorial Day weekend, the City of Bellingham joins the community in honoring members of the military who died serving their country. The City is a significant sponsor of the annual Memorial Day Parade, which goes from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 24. The parade starts at the corner of Alabama Street and Cornwall Avenue and continues south on Cornwall. Note that City Hall, Bellingham Public Library locations, and Arne Hanna Aquatic Center will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26. Public Works and Parks emergency services can be reached at 360-778-7700. Police, fire, and medic services are always available by calling 911.
Lake Whatcom meeting
Each year, elected representatives from the Bellingham City Council, Whatcom County Council, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of Commissioners come together to discuss efforts to improve and protect water quality in Lake Whatcom and hear updates from staff. The 2025 annual meeting occurred in April, but the discussion will continue in a second Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commissioners Meeting on Wednesday, June 4 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Community members are welcome to attend in-person or online to hear the discussion. Find details on our website.
Eldridge bike lane pilot – We want your feedback!
Do you live or travel on Eldridge Avenue? We need your input on the bike lane pilot. The pilot added improvements along Eldridge Avenue from Broadway to Nequalicum, enhancing safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. Data from the pilot show significant benefits to our most vulnerable users – cyclists and pedestrians. Post-project results show about a 30-percent increase in bike and pedestrian use and slightly lower speeds since the project was implemented in April 2024. While parking changed, we found side street availability is still sufficient. Our current recommendation to City Council is to make the bike lanes permanent. To help inform the final decision, please share your experience by completing our survey on Engage Bellingham by June 8.
Speaking of transportation feedback
We are updating our Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan for 2025-2029, which aims to reduce solo drivers and support greener commutes. This plan outlines strategies like partnering with employers and continuing investments in walking, biking, and transit. If you’re interested, then you can view the draft plan online and email comments to askPW@cob.org by June 8, 2025, or attend the upcoming Transportation Commission meeting on June 10 or the City Council meeting on June 23.
Improving public spaces
Travelers can expect daytime, single-lane closures along Roeder Avenue between Coho Way and Squalicum Way May 27-29 while construction continues on the new lift station. Access to local businesses will be maintained, in coordination with flaggers. James Street between Orchard Drive and Telegraph Road will be reduced to one lane May 27-30 while crews are paving the roadway, weather depending.
Many streets in Fairhaven and Downtown will be restricted this weekend for Memorial Day festivities, particularly around Cornwall Avenue on Saturday for the Memorial Day Parade and in the core of Fairhaven on Sunday. Please pay close attention to no-parking signs, plan ahead if you are traveling into any of these areas, watch for detours, and use alternative transportation (bus, bike, or walk) to get around.
