Eastside rail preservation takes another step forward
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The dream of preserving the 42-mile-long rail corridor through East King County is about to become a reality. But now the bickering is starting over what to do with it first: a bike trail, a walking path or a commuter train?
The county is about to close on a deal to acquire the final 20 mile portion of the 42-mile-long Eastside rail corridor that stretches from Renton to Snohomish County. It is a dream come true for those who want commuter trains, but also bicycle trails, and walking paths and perhaps even resurrecting the dinner train.
All sides made their case Monday afternoon before the King County Council.
"Get on the with business of building a great regional trail," said Matt Cohen who wants a walking path.
"Holding up any trail development in the rest of the corridor for studying an excursion train is not in the interest of the public," added Chuck Ayers with the Cascade Bicycle Club.
But Doug Engle countered: "We believe that the vast majority of the people in the region want the rail to remain, and a trail to be built, and an excursion train to run again."
The big winner will be Bellevue. The state's fifth largest city has the second largest employment center, and Bellevue is already moving forward with its own light rail.
"From my standpoint, I think that we can get to building a trail first," said Bellevue City Councilman John Chelminiak. "And then as that goes along, design it in such a way that we can add that commuter system at a later date. We simply don't have that money right now."
Monday's hearing sets the stage for a crucial vote for the King County Council - one of many - that will finally get the Eastside Rail Corridor on the tracks.
The county is about to close on a deal to acquire the final 20 mile portion of the 42-mile-long Eastside rail corridor that stretches from Renton to Snohomish County. It is a dream come true for those who want commuter trains, but also bicycle trails, and walking paths and perhaps even resurrecting the dinner train.
All sides made their case Monday afternoon before the King County Council.
"Get on the with business of building a great regional trail," said Matt Cohen who wants a walking path.
"Holding up any trail development in the rest of the corridor for studying an excursion train is not in the interest of the public," added Chuck Ayers with the Cascade Bicycle Club.
But Doug Engle countered: "We believe that the vast majority of the people in the region want the rail to remain, and a trail to be built, and an excursion train to run again."
The big winner will be Bellevue. The state's fifth largest city has the second largest employment center, and Bellevue is already moving forward with its own light rail.
"From my standpoint, I think that we can get to building a trail first," said Bellevue City Councilman John Chelminiak. "And then as that goes along, design it in such a way that we can add that commuter system at a later date. We simply don't have that money right now."
Monday's hearing sets the stage for a crucial vote for the King County Council - one of many - that will finally get the Eastside Rail Corridor on the tracks.
The county has already spent over $1M on studies that show the existing tracks are useless for commuter traffic, so unless you have an extra Billion laying around to build something, let them use it as a trail for now. The law is written such that it can go back to being a rail at any time.
 @405Commuter Why spend the money on removing the rails and installing a trail? If there is no many laying around to build a commuter rail why waste money removing the existing infrastructure? The trail cost money this state outdoes have. I think the best solution is to do nothing. It doesn't cost anything.Â
Why in the earth do we need ANOTHER bike trail. Maybe if the bike riders and walkers want to pay for it. Go ahead. Stupid to waste money removing the tracks and installing a trail. It will only make the cost of doing commuter rail in the future much much more expensive.Â
I always wondered why we would take commute options away from one of the most congested corridors in the state. I don't see that many bike commuters from Renton to Everett. However, there are an assload of drivers on 405 that might consider taking the train. Put some trains on those tracks and get some cars off of 405
I always felt it was a bad day when trains no longer went to Issaquah Snoqualmie North Bend and then over the Snoqualmie Pass this would then give Wa State a 3rd pass to go over when weather is bad and may close one of the other passes and would help get some of the traffic off off of I-90. If done right a bike and walking path can be a long side of it. face it there just is no more space for more traffic on the highways and the bus is full so why not use more rail to do the job
commuter train is my vote
They should have simply insisted that BN keep the line open as a bypass for times when the water route through Richmond Beach, Edmonds and Mukilteo gets blocked by landslides. Then they could run commuter traffic on both routes as needed, perhaps even mixing light and heavy rail (carefully).
I've said for years the thing that is holding the eastside back isn't a train or quality mass transit to try to relieve congestion ...but the lack of a quality north/south bike trail that will move tens of thousands of commuters every day.
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Yup. That's what is holding us back - the lack of a Kirkland to Renton Bike Trail.
 @NBA_Is_Useless I believe there are, in fact, more people who commute to work each day on the Burke-Gilman than on the Sounder train. At least our per-trip subsidies are a lot lower!
Kirkland already bought part of the rail line within its city limits and is planning to tear out the rails and start building a trail in a couple of months now that it has passed its tax increase so its too late to save the rail line. A shame since it will be very hard to put the rails back once they are taken out.
I look forward to the day when Sounder Commuter Rail Service runs over the Willburton Trestle