[MrVandelay]

for those who are not familiar with this, there is a deal in the works for King county and the port of Seattle to swap a 46 mile rail corridor for Boeing field. King county would take possession of the 46 mile rail corridor and turn it into a multi use park trail.

story is here
http://www.portseattle.org/news/press/2006/10_25_2006_76.shtml

Anyway, after looking at a map this afternoon of the rail corridor, I was observing how it runs parallel to I-405. My thought was instead of turning it into a bike trail, how about leave the rails right where they are and improve the transportation infrastructure of the county and use it as a light rail line. The tracks are in place connecting Renton, Factoria, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Woodinville. It would be ideal in my opinion.

http://www.spiritofwashingtondinnertrain.com/img/sightseeing_pic_2.jpg

[northface]

because they are idiots. its like the trail that leads into renton from maple valley and everything....there were rail lines in place but they decided to build a trail instead. Yeah, its a nice trail and all but maple valley highway into renton is still a mess during the rush hour commute. Also, this rail line is used by the spirit of washington dinner train...there will be no more dinner train! AH! unless they move it to a facility in bellevue to woodinville...WOOPDEDOO! that will be a short train ride. Anyways, i think they should just leave it as it is...or use the rail line for another mode for transportation....seriously...LOOK AT 405 PEOPLE!!! ITS ALWAYS IN GRIDLOCK dont use this land for a trail!! ugh makes me so mad how stupid some of these officials are.

[J. Will]

How wide is it? Could they not have rail with a trail beside it? Even 20 feet would be enough space for that if they put a fence or some kind of barrier between the two. Look at White Rock, B.C. They have active train tracks right beside the road and sidewalk.

[seaskyfan]

I'm frustrated by the County's intention to turn this into a bike trail. If not light rail (for either expense or density reasons) it would be a great BRT corridor.

[MrVandelay]

I wrote an email this morning to Ron Sims, and Cc the mayor of Kirkland and Bellevue City council.

:tup: I received this good news from the mayor of Kirkland...

Thank you for your excellent suggestion. You are right on target...this line already connects all of the Eastside's Urban Centers from Renton to Woodinville. We need to protect, first, in my opinion too, for a high capacity rail corridor, then trails. I believe that by the time all of the planning is done... with all the normal community and stakeholder input achieved, it will indeed, be as such. However, one concern will be that the existing tracks are RR tracks only, and do not fit the conventional transit car wheel base. There is discussion that perhaps both types of rails... and trails may be able to fit the current right of way. Pretty exciting stuff!

Many Thanks,

Jim Lauinger
Kirkland Mayor

[NJD]

Here in Portland we currently have 5 such rail ROW projects in various stages of completion; one trail with fenced off rail (Springwater Corridor), two old trolley ROW to trails (Red Electric and Oregon), one rail to streetcar (Willamette Shoreline), and one rail to light rail (Forest Grove). The trails are quite popular with bike commuters so don't write off a trail altogether, but if there is room for rail in the ROW and a trail then this is exciting news for the east side! The important thing is who owns the alignment for future uses and expansion.

[Diddle E Squat]

However, one concern will be that the existing tracks are RR tracks only, and do not fit the conventional transit car wheel base.

Nonsense, all of Sound Transit's rail service use 4' 8.5" wide tracks, just like the existing freight rail line that is being bought. Apparently the good mayor thinks San Francisco's BART extends all the way to Seattle...

[Diddle E Squat]

However, one concern will be that the existing tracks are RR tracks only, and do not fit the conventional transit car wheel base.

Nonsense, all of Sound Transit's rail service use 4' 8.5" wide tracks, just like the existing freight rail line that is being bought. Apparently the good mayor thinks San Francisco's BART extends all the way to Seattle...

[mhays]

I'd love to see a trail there. We also need rail lines.

[Capitol Hill]

Okay, before we start spending billions of dollars on anything, why don't we start by spending millions? I know, just money. But seriously, put a 3 sounder trains on each morning and each night commute. You could have x amount of trains going from Tacoma to Seattle, and 3 from Tacoma up to Woodinville, or even further north, I think this extends up to Snohomish. And in reverse, 3 trains returning.

Bingo, you now have add thousands of trips available, and reduction of the worst congrested freeway in the region. We already have some of the Sounder trains, is it possible that we can add some capacity on this eastside line with better utilization? I'm just thinking, but sheesh, we don't need to spend big bucks with immediately turning this into light rail when commuter rail might work just as effectively.

That'd be my most cost effective approach.