to ST2 package
“The Eastside BNSF corridor presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to consider fast, frequent and reliable transit paralleling I-405,” said Patterson. “I continue to hear from people all across King County who support the acquisition of this corridor and the construction of a trail, but who also want transit constructed along this corridor as well. I couldn’t agree more—we must begin planning now for rails with trails.”
“In a region clamoring for more mobility options, it would be ludicrous to let an intact transportation corridor be dismantled,” said Phillips, a Sound Transit Boardmember. “With this amendment, Sound Transit is positioned to make maximum use of existing right-of-way through some of the most rapidly growing cities in the region.”
The Eastside BNSF corridor spans 42 miles parallel to Interstate 405 from Renton to Snohomish and Woodinville, providing a regional connection through two counties and seven cities. The corridor was offered for sale by BNSF in 2004.
An advisory committee chaired by Patterson and made up
of government, business, civic and environmental stakeholders was assembled
last year to study the corridor and make informed recommendations on short-and
long-term uses for the corridor.
In January the advisory committee made the following recommendations:
• The corridor be acquired for the public's use;
• A trail be constructed between Woodinville and Renton where no freight use exists today;
• The single-rail line between Woodinville and Snohomish be maintained to serve existing freight uses and that a trail be constructed alongside;
• The corridor be preserved for future public transit use, such as light rail;
• Passenger rail/public transit use be protected through the federal "rail banking" program.
“This study will make sure we have the plans in place to develop fast and reliable transit along this corridor as soon as practicably possible,” said Patterson.
Phillips and Sound Transit Boardmembers David Enslow and Dow Constantine also sent a letter [pdf] to Sound Transit Board Chair John Ladenburg encouraging Sound Transit to take an active interest in the future of the BNSF corridor. Phillips suggests that if current negotiations between BNSF, King County, and the Port of Seattle fail, Sound Transit and other stakeholders should be ready to form a funding partnership to purchase the corridor. The ST2 amendment enables Sound Transit to participate in such a partnership.
“The
first step is to secure public ownership of the corridor,” said
Phillips. “From there, we can decide what the ultimate uses will
be. I envision a corridor with rail and trail working side by side.”
Phone: (206) 296-1000 | Fax: (206) 296-0198 | TTY/TDD:
(206) 296-1024 | Toll Free: (800) 325-6165
Mailing Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200,
Seattle, WA 98104-3272