June 13, 2007

You can't spell trails without rails

Bicycle enthusiasts, environmentalists, transportation advocates, King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle Port Commissioner Bob Edwards today pledged to work to secure the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Eastside Rail Corridor and preserve the option for future transit use. Public ownership of the corridor is being negotiated between the county, port and railroad.

Sims, along with the environmentalists and transportation advocates, signed a statement of Principles of Dual Use for the corridor. The principles include the promise to work with local, state and federal agencies for money to build a rail line on the 40 mile corridor being sold by the railroad. Trail advocates from the start have advocated the dual use of this critical public asset and the statement of principles signed today emphasize their absolute commitment to this goal.

"All of my documents and all of my staff presentations are about dual use. But let there be no doubt to anyone about our intention to include a rail line if we are able to secure public ownership of this corridor," said Executive Sims. "If the money were available, we'd build modern commuter or high capacity transit rail immediately."

"It is important for all stakeholders to work to save the corridor," Sims said. "We cannot let slip away this once in a life-time opportunity to keep this corridor in one piece in public hands."

"Acquiring the corridor is an opportunity we can't afford to lose for a whole host of reasons: for recreation, for the environment, and for economic development,'' Commissioner Edwards said. "I wouldn't support this deal without strong guarantees to preserve the potential for transit use in this corridor."

Representatives of the Cascade Bicycle Club, Cascade Land Conservancy, and Transportation Choices signed the document at Milepost 5, the start of the 40 mile section of corridor that is for sale. The public would own the corridor starting at the north end of Renton's Gene Coulon Park and ending in the City of Snohomish.

The statement of principles will be turned into a plan to seek state and federal support for a new rail line on the corridor that is being sold in a three way project being negotiated by the railroad, the county and the port. The King County Council and the Port of Seattle Commission must approve the deal.

"As we developed the Cascade Agenda, we found that in order to conserve our countryside, we had to make our communities eminently livable," said Gene Duvernoy, president of the Cascade Land Conservancy. "Rails and trails in this corridor are both critical to this goal. We firmly support public ownership and dual use of the BNSF Eastside Corridor."

"Giving King County residents greater mobility options is good for our environment and our quality of life," said Jessyn Farrell, Executive Director of Transportation Choices Coalition. "Acquiring this corridor now will prove to be a valuable asset for generations to come, which is why it should be preserved for all future uses."

The Principles of Dual use states:

WHEREAS, we agree that this priceless corridor must be preserved in public ownership; and

WHEREAS, we agree that the future of this corridor is as a dual use transportation corridor that should ultimately be rails with trails; and

WHEREAS, we agree that any trail use, whether paved, gravel or other surface, before rail use is interim; and

WHEREAS, we agree that any trail before rail must be publicly marked as interim including with signage that clearly designates the corridor for future rail use; and

WHEREAS, we agree that when sufficient resources are found to fund modern rail use in the corridor, the trail shall be rerouted within the ROW to accommodate rail use; and

WHEREAS, we agree that while the Wilburton Tunnel must be removed to accommodate the widening of Interstate 405, a replacement structure sufficient to support rail with trail use across Interstate 405 should be restored; and

WHEREAS, we agree to advocate for funds for rail use at the local, regional, state and federal levels to accomplish these principles of dual use; and

WHEREAS, we agree to reflect these principles of dual use in our future actions including legislative agendas, legal documents, MOUs and budgetary requests;

King County, BNSF and the Port of Seattle announced a Memorandum of Understanding in February that included the sale of the corridor to the public as part of a deal called Connections for Our Future. The agreement would put both of the region’s largest airports under one airport authority, and make public and private investments to increase the speed and efficiency of train and truck freight hauling.

Related information

• Executive Sims remarks (PDF)
• Commissioner Edwards remarks (PDF)
• Statement of Principles for dual use (PDF)
• Sims wants to pick up speed on land-swap deal, Seattle Times
• Tracks' future remains for trail and transit, Herald Net
• Sims hopes to buy time for rails-for-trails, Seattle Post Intelligencer