Eastside Rail Corridor

I am proud to have spearheaded this issue and we have arrived at a great balance between rail and trail use.

Photo: Lorrie McKay, Office of the King County Executive

By preserving the opportunity for dual-use, we will be able to offer people a variety of transportation options as well as recreational opportunities. Bringing a corridor such as this into public ownership is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Three years ago, King County began discussions with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad about purchasing their eastside corridor. The vision originally started with rails to trails, but after seeing the opportunity the corridor poised for mass transit and congestion relief, I worked to change the vision to rails with trails. I am proud to announce that after three years we have reached our goal.

On Monday, the King County Council unanimously and enthusiastically approved bringing the BNSF Eastside Rail Corridor into public ownership. The Port of Seattle will be purchasing the corridor and will have ultimate authority over it, while King County will purchase an easement on which to place a trail.

With this historic vote we were able to turn a once in a lifetime opportunity into a reality. By bringing the BNSF corridor into public ownership we preserve the opportunity to utilize a dual-use approach of rails with trails. We have passed a major milestone by bringing this corridor into public ownership. Now we will embark on a public process to determine the size and placement of the trail, and to examine congestion relief along I-405. I will keep you posted as we develop details for that process.

I have enjoyed spearheading this effort and it has been a pleasure to work with the Port of Seattle, BNSF and Executive Sims to act on this rare opportunity. Read more...

Sincerely,

Julia Patterson
King County Councilmember - District 5

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