The 42 mile BNSF rail corridor from Renton to Snohomish is currently owned by the Port of Seattle. BNSF sold it. I’ve always speculated that the reason BNSF didn’t want the route was the very busy street crossings. To make these crossings safe would cost untold millions which BNSF would not recover running one small train a day. Even the fees paid by the old Dinner Train would never cover the cost.
Well some folks insist that the corridor would be good for light rail. If you don’t put much thought into it then it seems logical. Commuters run north and south on the Eastside by the thousands and many might be happier to ride the train or so they say.
I’m having trouble imagining NE 8th Street in Bellevue blocked off for a commuter train every 15 minutes. There are several other main streets that would be in the same boat. Sure, these crossings would be ripe for red light cameras so why not? And that might seem like good news to some cities. But running that light might get you more than a photo at police HQ.
Secondly it’s a single track line except for a few minor sidings. To make it a reasonable commuter rail you’d have to double track it. The advocates point out that there are 52 points along the route where property would have to be acquired to widen it. People who live there might not be too happy to sell a sixty foot strip just to get a train right outside their bedroom window. I’m just guessing.
The other big push is coming from the folks to want to turn the route into an urban bike and pedestrian trail. This was the original scheme for the corridor when BNSF first explored selling. Ron, the King County Exec, had the vision of hundreds of bikers and walkers meandering 42 miles a day rain or shine. He had a dream. Now he’s with HUD in Washington (the other one). Some dream!
It was a reasonable scheme. All over the country former rail routes have been turned into trails. It’s a nationwide activity. One of the reasons for doing it that way is that according to some obscure agreement railroads retain the right to buy those corridors back and use them for trains again someday if there’s an important reason. It’s called “Federal Rail Banking.” If you have a former railroad near you check it out. I’ll wait… See? I told ‘ya.
The program means that if anyone were to build a structure, like the Newcastle Library, and block off the roadbed it could get dicey to try and run trains on it. That’s why lots of places use the old roadbeds for trails.
However, laying tracks and running a commuter rail on the old roadbed might be OK. Seems logical. What could possibly go wrong?
The problem here is everyone has a point of view. When I say “problem” I don’t mean trying to decide between fries or rice pilaf. First we have enough governments involved to last several lifetimes. Probably around 20 if you count agencies as governments. Maybe more. Puget Sound Energy and Cascade Water Alliance are two I’m surprised to see on the list. But I’m surprised about lots of stuff.
There are many others not so surprising. Let’s have a meeting and figure out how many. Or a meeting to develop an agenda for the meeting to figure out how many agencies will be involved. Let’s just have a meeting to see who buys the beer at the preliminary pre-meeting.
The Port of Seattle (current owner) was looking at trading the corridor to King County for the airport. That’s Boeing Field King County International. Its name would have to be changed to something else but everyone would still call it Boeing Field.
Here’s something I don’t understand: Boeing Field is an airport where a lot of big and little planes land and take off. Qwest Field is where Mariners play baseball but they don’t fish or sail. There’s no way these two “fields” could trade roles. Also you can’t graze cattle on either one. Some say they don’t play much baseball either. Why are both named “Field?” Let me know, please.
Anyway, due to some nonsense about dump trucks and dirt hauling cost overruns at Sea-Tac’s third runway project the Port of Seattle is not in a trading position last I heard. Must have something to do with the value of the two properties and a requirement to get approval for the deal etc. Or maybe they just forgot. That was some time ago. I’ll have to see if I can find the current status. Naw, I’m too lazy.
We also have inputs from local bike clubs as well as another group called the Eastside Trail Advocates. And I’m sure the Audubon people will want to help.
The fancy Port of Seattle paver has been underutilized lately. Due to completion of the third Sea-Tac runway and reductions in the number of container ships stopping at Seattle they haven’t needed it much recently. It was advertised as being capable of paving 10 mph, but we think that’s an exaggeration. Probably more like five. That would mean it could take a couple days to pave a 42 mile bike trail. Use your calculator; don’t try this in your head. It hurts.
Well not so fast. If they decide to go ahead with the light rail plan there won’t be any room for a bike trial. On the other hand it they slap down a bike trail it would throw the light rail plans into a tizzy. Neither faction wants to come along and try to add their development after the other project is in place.
Therefore these people are proposing that everyone get together and do both. Make a nice quiet bike trail with a pedestrian path and lots of low maintenance native plants with a double track high capacity light rail line sharing a 20 foot wide corridor for 42 miles. Bird watchers rejoice. Never mind the 106 grade crossings with flashing red light cameras.
I have to say of all the fun stuff going on around the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Area I think this one might be the most fun. If you think getting all these agencies, departments, and councils around a table with highly motivated recreation clubs to reach a reasonable agreement that costs less than a freeway to Mars will be easy you might need to reevaluate. If you like run-on sentences you’ll love reading the meeting minutes.
So my next mission is to get into these meetings. They could last 40 years or more. I’d be over 100. Wait, do I really want that? Let’s have a meeting and decide.
Al
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