Kirkland ranked in top 10 most successful walkable suburbs in US

By on October 15, 2010 in Featured Slideshow, Headlines

Kirkland, Washington is noted in an October 9, 2010 Wall Street Journal article as one of the most successful walkable suburbs in the United States (ranked by education levels, per capita income, and travel time to work).  To view the article:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735804575535880450842698.html?KEYWORDS=Livable+Cities.

Kirkland’s Walkable Community Profile highlights programs, policies and amenities that support the City’s commitment to walkability and active living.

The most successful walkable suburbs in the U.S., ranked by education levels, per capita income and travel time to work.
1. Bethesda, Md.
2. Princeton Township, N.J.
3. Highland Park, Texas
4. Evanston, Ill.
5. Birmingham, Mich.
6. Coral Gables, Fla.
7. Winter Park, Fla.
8. Menlo Park, Calif.
9. Lake Forest, Ill.
10. Kirkland, Wash.
Sources: Martin Prosperity Institute, Christopher Leinberger, U.S. Census Bureau

The Wall Street Journal

About Rob Butcher

Editor and Scribbler of Kirkland Views.
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  • David

    We walk Kirkland pretty much every day, so #10 ranking for Kirkland is interesting and partially deserved (with so few sidewalks, it can be hairy at times). Now if we could just turn that rusting, overgrown, worthless old rails to a nice trail, we’d move up the rankings for sure!

  • Debra Sinick

    All the more reason to turn the BNSF corridor into a trail. Walkability is so important today. People want out of their cars and have places to walk.

    We have a huge start over so many other cities because of the boulevard and its lake view. A trail along the corridor would continue to enhance the lifestyle many people are looking for today. Adding a world class trail would add to the benefits Kirkland offers to its citizens. Plus, it would attract people from other eastside communities to come walk here and spend their dollars in local shops and restaurants.

  • http://twitter.com/monty0000 Johnmichael Monteith

    Well deserved, and now Kirkland needs to take this notoriety and extend it into the newly annexed areas. We now have a very dangerous strip for pedestrians along Juanita Drive that has no sidewalk. Add to this mix the children from the Juanita area that are supposed to start attending Finn Hill, which will require traveling along Juanita Drive, plus the beautiful views that are only available to motorists or people on bicycles, and we have an amazing opportunity to show the world that we should be in the top five walkable suburbs.

  • Rlstyle

    We can’t have everything: or can we?

    Being in the top ten walkable cities is great but without proper planning and budgeting, it comes at a cost; the greatest of which is the creation of traffic jams. If Kirkland were rated for its ability to move people and traffic, it wouldn’t even come close to making the list of desirable cities especially if we are to be part of a regional system. Mostly residential streets will have to be upgraded to collectors or arterials. Citizens don’t want it nor do they want traffic jams. Instead of having a Traffic Engineer, thanks to the Council we have a congestion engineer.

    Kirkland has the ability to provide for a walkable city as well as have a good transportation system; however, the Council’s budget priorities indicate they would rather spend our money something else. They need to reassign their priorities. For a suburban city that wants to remain suburban, Kirkland’s transportation system is a failure. Our city is less walkable than it could be and our traffic jams are getting worse. Both problems could be solved without raising taxes if the Council would create a sustainable budget with the money going to provide essential governmental services for all its citizens, not just for special interest.

    Bob Style