ARLINGTON — City officials are looking to the community for guidance on a project that would extend Centennial Trail through downtown Arlington and widen 67th Avenue NE.

The city will be hosting a public open house Sept. 17, from 5-8 p.m., at the city of Arlington Council Chambers for residents to voice their concerns regarding the project.

Public works director Jim Kelly said the city has sent out letters to notify residents who live within the affected area of the meeting.

That area includes 67th Avenue NE from 204th Street NE to Lebanon Street.

“We want to know what the public thinks,” Kelly said. “This is a community project.”

Proposed city improvements include connecting the 17-mile strip of Centennial Trail north to downtown Arlington. The county trail will then continue north to the Skagit County line once the phase II of the trail project is completed.

That section has obtained the necessary permits and is slated to go out to bid for construction later this month, Centennial Trail Coalition Chairwoman Bea Randall said.

In addition to extending the trail, the city is proposing widening and reconstructing stretches of roadway and installing sidewalks, landscaping and lighting, according to city documents.

But because of the project’s close proximity to a parallel section of BNSF Railway, the city is looking at three options to widen the road and make room for the Centennial Trail.

The city can not place portions of roadway on BNSF property.

The north half of the project is what the city is looking for input on, Kelly said.

That section would require the city to widen a strip of 67th Avenue NE from 211th Place NE north to Lebanon Street in order to have the trail connect from the south to downtown Arlington.

The three construction options for that area, each of which affect access to businesses and have varying levels of impact on surrounding wetland areas, will range from $7.28 million to $9 million.

The city should have no problems widening the southern stretch of 67th Avenue NE from 204th Street NE to 211th Place NE, Kelly said.

City officials are also seeking comments from residents on the best way for trail users to cross the railroad and right-of-way considerations for local properties.

Benefits of the project include improving safety and mobility for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, city officials said.

At the open house, residents will be able to view draft design concepts, ask questions to project staff and provide comments and feedback to proposals.

Arlington City Council Chambers is located at 110 E. Third Street.