Even before the feds have given their blessing to the Port of Seattle's purchase of the Woodinville Subdivision, The Port is doing what is has the time and ability to do: conduct open houses to get feedback from the community on the future of this line. According to the following blog post, it's pretty clear that there is a lot of support in the Kirkland area for a trail, and not so much for freight or commuter use of the line:
My “Take Away” From the Port of Seattle Eastside Rail Open House - Debra Sinick
I support dual-use of the corridor, with rail taking the pole position and trail doing follow up. My vision of this has been clear since the day it was announced that BNSF wanted to sell the line: Use it for moving people, whether it be by train, by foot, or by bicycle. It's ridiculous to think that we have a line that runs from one busy end of the Eastside to the other, and that tracks could be pulled forever.
We need to use this resource that has been put in our hands, to relieve congestion at some level through this populated region of the county.
Friday, July 25, 2008
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Hi Kurt,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the line should be for moving people. The line will obviously be rail-banked by law, but I agree with the analysis pur forth by Ron Sims. Let's put a trail out there and move people by foot or bike.
Excellent thoughts. My fear has always been that the impending legal fight to get tracks back into the ground will stall any transit plans to the point that it will cost the region twice as much by the time it's done. As a bicyclist I use rail trails now and love them; either way I will use this line. Thanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteKurt,
ReplyDeleteOfficials still need to prove the line is vaible for rail commuters. They have not done that and I have major doubts about the cost, utility, and safety of this as a rail line. Trains can only go as fast as 25-30 miles an hour, cross 53 intersections and will impact the local street traffic immeasurably.
I suppose it's a matter of balancing these details with the fact that the Eastside is in gridlock, and how much residents are willing to endure congestion or railroad crossings.
ReplyDeleteI think we're at a turning point, made even more poignant by $4.00 gas. We can look to cities like Chicago and New York where commuter rail has been a way of life for over a century, and places like the L.A. Basin that are now warming to the trains. Yes, it's a long-term investment to massage the Woodinville Sub into a commuter line. Yes, waiting at a crossing can be a pain. Call it the curse of being an urban center.
I'll be interested to see the results of that study on the viability of the line for commuter service.