Eastside Rail Corridor

The Eastside Rail Corridor, officially Eastrail, is a rail right of way where a rail trail has been under development in the Eastside suburbs of Seattle, Washington. The corridor follows the path of the former Woodinville Subdivision from Renton to the City of Snohomish at Snohomish Junction.[1] As of 2017, the northern portion was still in operation by Eastside Freight Railroad.

Eastrail
Eastside Rail Corridor route
Length15.6 mi (25.1 km)
LocationEastside King County Snohomish County, Washington, USA
TrailheadsRenton (southern terminus)
City of Snohomish near Snohomish Junction (northern terminus)
UseHiking/Biking, Freight Railroad
Highest point200 ft (61 m), Kirkland near Peter Kirk Elem.
Lowest point20 ft (6.1 m), Lake Washington shoreline
Right of wayNorthern Pacific's "Belt Line" and Burlington Northern's Woodinville Subdivision
Websitehttps://eastrail.org/

History

Acquisition
Cross Kirkland Corridor in 2013, prior to removal of rails and resurfacing

The Port of Seattle acquired the right of way of the former Woodinville Subdivision from BNSF Railway through purchase and donation in 2008.[2] On December 10, 2012, the King County Council approved purchase of 15.6 miles (25.1 km) of the right-of-way from Port of Seattle.[3] A portion of the central corridor, named the Cross Kirkland Corridor, is owned by the City of Kirkland;[4] a spur to Redmond, named the Redmond Central Connector, is owned by the City of Redmond;[5] a portion in downtown Bellevue was purchased by Sound Transit,[6] and a northern portion of the corridor remains Port property for dual use as a trail and freight line. Some state residents brought suit against the Port of Seattle because the purchase was not used for freight in its entirety.[7] In 2016, Snohomish County acquired the right of way from the King–Snohomish County line at Woodinville north to the city of Snohomish.[8]

Opening
Cross Kirkland Corridor after official opening in 2015

In January, 2015, the 5.75-mile (9.25 km) Kirkland portion of the Eastside Rail Corridor, with compacted gravel surfacing, opened for pedestrians and bicyclists.[9][10]

The Kirkland–Bellevue section was opened in July 2018, connecting State Route 520 (and its bike trail) to the Spring District.[11] It was christened as Eastrail on July 20, 2019.[12]

Eastside Greenway Alliance

In January 2016, community leaders gathered in Bellevue, Washington, for a one day summit about transforming the 28 miles (45 km) Eastside Rail Corridor into a multi-use trail. Prior to the meeting, planning and construction of various corridor segments had been underway for years.

The group envisioned a partnership of established and reputable regional and national nonprofits to collectively advocate for the trail. The Alliance would initially be co-led by Cascade Bicycle Club and The Trust for Public Land.[13]

Cities and connections

Cities through which the corridor passes include:

  • Renton
  • Newcastle
  • Bellevue
  • Kirkland (Cross Kirkland Corridor)[4]
  • Redmond (Redmond Central Connector)[5]
  • Woodinville
  • Snohomish

Trail connections

If constructed as proposed by King County, these other trails would or could link to the Eastside Rail Corridor:[14][9]

Railroad ownership

BNSF sold the running rights to Tom Payne, GNP Railway, between Woodinville and Snohomish in conjunction with the sale to the Port of Seattle.[15] GNP's partner, Ballard Terminal Railroad, took over freight operations from BNSF Railway in January 2010. By 2011 Ballard Terminal Railroad was filing with other creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for an involuntary reorganization of GNP.[16]

A short line terminal railroad operating in Seattle, the Ballard Terminal Railroad, filed suit in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington and petitioned the Surface Transportation Board on April 1, 2013, seeking to prevent the City of Kirkland from removing the rail tracks for the planned trail. The Ballard Terminal Railroad wanted to keep the tracks intact for future rail freight use.[17] On May 3, 2013, Federal District Court Judge Marsha Pechman granted the City of Kirkland's motion to dismiss the case filed by Ballard Terminal Railroad Company seeking to prevent rail salvage on the Cross Kirkland Corridor. In her oral ruling, Judge Pechman stated the Federal District Court did not have jurisdiction to consider Ballard's temporary restraining order (TRO) and that the Surface Transportation Board was the proper forum for adjudicating Ballard's claims. On August 1, 2013, the Surface Transportation Board denied the request by Ballard Terminal Railroad Company to block rail removal along the Cross Kirkland Corridor.

References
  1. "Centennial Trail South", Snohomish County Washington Gov, December 15, 2016, retrieved June 29, 2017
  2. Eastside Rail Corridor, Port of Seattle
  3. Eastside Rail Corridor, Metropolitan King County Council, December 10, 2012, retrieved 2012-12-14
  4. Cross Kirkland Corridor, City of Kirkland, 2012
  5. Redmond Central Connector Phase 1, City of Redmond, retrieved 2013-03-06
  6. Eastside Rail Corridor, King County, Washington, February 19, 2013
  7. Scott Gutierrez (August 30, 2010). "Lawsuit: Purchase of Eastside rail corridor was illegal". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  8. Centennial Trail South, Snohomish County
  9. Alexa Vaughn (January 31, 2015), "Longest stretch of Eastside Rail Corridor opens in Kirkland", The Seattle Times, retrieved 2019-07-09
  10. Tom Fucoloro (February 2, 2015), "Kirkland's new trail changes everything", Seattle Bike Blog
  11. Pappas, Evan (July 5, 2018). "King County opens first section of Eastside Railway Corridor connection". Kirkland Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  12. "Unveiling Eastrail – previously known as Eastside Rail Corridor – and a new partnership to complete the 42-mile trail connected to Link light rail" (Press release). King County. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  13. Eastside Greenway Alliance, May 17, 2017
  14. "The Eastside rail trail corridor". King County executive. January 26, 2009. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  15. "Is Snohomish rail project on the right track?", Everett Herald, Aug 1, 2009, retrieved June 29, 2017
  16. "Eastside railway's creditors seek reorganization", The Seattle Times, February 4, 2011, retrieved June 29, 2017
  17. "Cross Kirkland Corridor rail removal halts, faces federal lawsuit", The Kirkland Reporter, April 2, 2013, retrieved April 2, 2013

Further reading
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