Woodinville Sub Sale to Close Soon

Mark December 15th on your calendars, because after that time the BNSF Woodinville Subdivision will be under new ownership! Price: $107 million.

Since we are in tough financial times, a group of buyers joined forces to save this right-of-way from abandonment. And here's the best part: the new owners will include Port of Seattle, King County, Sound Transit, and the City of Redmond. The northern part is still being used for freight, and will be operated by the Port. An email from their spokesperson a few months ago indicated that they were still looking for a short-line carrier to manage the line; sadly, the Temple family - owners of Washington Central and the Dinner Train - chose not to bid at that time. Redmond is interested in the stretch between Woodinville and Redmond for trail and rail access. I've long considered this portion to be a sleeper of sorts, because it runs from the busiest part of Woodinville to the busiest part of Redmond. Also imagine this: an interurban ride between the two cities through the valley and surrounded by some of the finest views in East King County. Sweet!

King County is still interested in building into their extensive trail system, and considers this corridor a vital link to many of those trails already in use. With 100 feet of right-of-way in many spots along the Woodinville Sub, operating both rails and trails can be a reality. Will Sound Transit's Link Light Rail run on part of this route? Only time and planning will tell.

Ever since late 2005, when BNSF announced that the line was for sale, I've been watching this activity as closely as possible. I even started a simple one-page website called Save The Railroad to get the word out that a priceless opportunity was ahead. That one page put me in touch with several of our elected leaders and a fair share of community organizations who were all interested in seeing the line used for the good of all. It was a great lesson in activism. Redmond's current vision for their part of of purchase mirrors almost exactly the idea I had for it back in early 2006. Amazing!

Frankly I'm thrilled to see this sale happen for several reasons. Keeping rail on this route is far too important for addressing future transportation needs. Creating more trail opportunities also makes me happy, because they not only create safer routes for peds and bicycles, but also a place for rail fans to potentially see trains up close from the safety of a dedicated walkway.

Kudos to all the groups involved!
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Article Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010221495_raildeal07m.html
More Subject Reading: http://www.warail.com/search?q=woodinville+subdivision

East Link Bridge Funding Is Back

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/165823.asp

We reported last week that Bridge Funding for Sound Transit's Eastside Light Rail Project was on hold. Through some adjustments the State was able to come up with funding to keep the project on time...for now. But there are a lot of discussions right now over what State projects will receive funding in this downturn world of money.

State Funds On Hold For Eastside Light Rail

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008952405_bridgerail31m.html

Given the financial situation in the Washington right now, the State has backed out of a $29 million commitment to fund work on the the I-90 bridges in support of the Eastside LINK Light Rail project. This could delay the line considerably if funding isn't found.

Eastside Light Rail Route Under Fire

It was only a matter of time before this happened.

The chosen route laid out HERE - down Bellevue Way and then to 112th Avenue - is coming under fire from people who don't want the LINK Light Rail to run near their homes. P-I reports this morning that the opponents are starting to come out of the woodwork in general, arguing against the preferred route which would take the trains down 106th Avenue through town. A real estate agent also claims that small businesses will be destroyed by the route, a claim that I don't support.

Once again the call for using the BNSF Right-Of-Way, which hasn't been purchased by the Port Of Seattle quite yet, in place of the route going down Bellevue Way. Both routes end up back at the same place at SE 8th Street, but the concern I have is that the right-of-way route bypasses any chance of having a rail station at the South Bellevue Park&Ride.

Discussions are ongoing. It's no wonder why our big projects around here take forever to complete. We'll have to see how this one plays out in the next few months, as the planning stages for the line become more advanced.

Eastside Rail Corrider Purchase Delayed

Short Version: Economy forces Port of Seattle to hold off buying the $107 million corridor from BNSF:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/164833.asp

Long Version: Port of Seattle thought twice about issuing bonds to purchase the Woodinville Subdivision, mainly because of current state of the economy. In addition, the Federal Transportation Board hasn't completed its analysis of the deal. I don't think there is any indication it wouldn't go through, but given some of the notoriety the Port had last year I'd say the head honcho is being nice and conservative.

What's interesting about the above-linked article is that the P-I focuses on the bike trail angle of the transaction, rather than the potential transportation perspective that the line could become for the region. The media sees this as a bicycle resource, not a transportation resource for more than two wheels.

Not too balanced if you ask me.

Light Rail on Bellevue Way or Along 405?

Not all on board with Bellevue Way light-rail proposal | Seattle Times Newspaper

Routing is the big question going forward, when bringing light rail into the Eastside's most populous city. Should it be done on the west side of the Slough or the east? Well, in short, there are more homeowners who have conflict with a route that would bring a larger South Bellevue Park & Ride into existence, and then run up Bellevue Way to 112th. The other route, using right-of-way from the BNSF line that is no longer used along I-405, would take riders east of the slough and create a station near SE8th and 118th Ave SE. While not as vocal as homeowners from Bellecrest and Surrey Downs neighborhoods, condo owners along the proposed BNSF route are also concerned about constant Light Rail behind their homes.

It's all summed up well by Bellevue Councilman Phil Noble: "It's not going to satisfy everyone."

View Proposed Routes on Map

Light Rail - Bellevue Shapes Future With Transit

This short Editorial piece discusses and describes accurately the feeling of excitement that many on the Eastside feel about getting Light Rail over Lake Washington.

Yesterday's article about what's called the Bel-Red Corridor puts the editorial into perspective; a large chunk of the region has been in decline for a decade, which is a good indicator that rezoning and new thinking are in order. The fact that Bellevue wants to build this up around Light Rail is a promising development. Mrs. WARail - who was born and grew up on the Eastside - laments the disappearance of the Bellevue she's known since she was young, but understands that change is imminent and in this case an addition to the quality of life for the region.

View Bel-Red Corridor on Map

Sound Transit Wants Your Feedback on East Link

Sound Transit wants public comment on East Link light rail options. This impacts anyone between Downtown Seattle and Redmond Overlake. Hate 520 or commuting over I-90? This might be your chance to be part of the solution. Like trains? Well this is an opportunity to share your preferences for a route.

I'm not so big on the timeline - Overlake Station by 2021 - but it's not like I could build a route any quicker. I feel the Eastside needs it no matter what.

$1 Billion Pricetag on Eastside Rail Upgrades

Ouch!

With a purchase price of $107 million, spending another billion and change is obviously a hard sell. I still think it's a good investment for the future, but can understand why people are gritting their teeth and squinting heavily when seeing the costs involved.

Negotiations Begin for Eastside Freight Service

Port of Seattle is beginning negotiations with GNP and Ballard Terminal Railroad to provide freight service on the Woodinville Subdivision. Freight Service is expected to continue in the north end of the line, between Snohomish and Woodinville, because the southern link is currently severed south of the Wilburton Trestle.

The opportunities for freight service on the line south of Woodinville are kind of scarce at this time anyway.

Kirkland City Council and The Rail vs. Trail Question

View City's Rail Map HERE

Yikes...not a lot of notice on this one...

Tonight - Tuesday September 16th (probably when you're reading this) - the Kirkland City Council is discussing the fate of the Woodinville subdivision as it stands within the city's borders. Nearly 7 miles of track exists within the city lines, including some of the most scenic sections and some of the tightest fits for the tracks running through places like Houghton. Eastside Trail Advocates will be at the meeting, and I'm hoping Rail Advocates like Eastside Rail Now! will be there as well. I can't make it, but I've done my part to raise awareness already.

In 2007 I was invited to speak before the Moss Bay Neighborhood Association, and I had the opportunity to share my vision of a rail line through the city that could easily serve some of the transportation needs of the region. My discussion was well received, and at the very least planted the idea that the rail line was a resource that should be saved.

My message today is the same as it was in 2006 when I heard that the line was up for sale. We need a rail line through the Eastside to serve the transportation needs of the region; without it, we are merely a region that is thinking big rather than taking the tough steps to make "World Class" happen for suburban Seattle. The argument from the Trail Advocate side has often been, "Look at all the grade crossings that will hold up traffic in the area." Yeah, look at them. They were there last year, and they were there 100 years ago. Get over it. It's a right-of-way, and cities like Chicago are littered with them. Last I checked, Chicago and its bustling suburbs were the center of the Midwest Universe - purely World Class. People deal with commuter trains there every day, and have for over a century. A commuter train will take maybe 20 seconds out of someone's day if they get caught at a crossing; if 20 seconds is that important on the wrong side of a train then maybe it's time to switch careers.

I love trails as much as the next person, because I'm also a big Bicycle Advocate. But as our region gets more congested the reality of life shows the vital need for transportation options that impact more people than those who ride bikes to work. I support an option that preserves the rail corridor first, and provides for a trail second.

Hopefully there will be someone at the meeting tonight who feels the same.

BNSF Woodinville Abandonment Notice

Here is a notice of BNSF's abandonment application at the Surface Transportation Board site. It notes abandonment between Bellevue and Woodinville, but does not make mention of anything south to Renton.

The Snohomish County section appears to fall under a different application.

Eastside Rail Now! Gets the Word Out

In 2006 I hosted a website called "Save The Railroad" to inform people about what I called "A vital branch line in peril." Eastside Rail Now! now runs with that torch; it's a group whose sole purpose is to promote and protect the former Woodinville Subdivision. They have provided community level guidance to decision makers on the line, and all the while providing ideas for the tracks' use in this busy corridor.

Since 2003, BNSF has had the Woodinville Subdivision up for sale, with King County as the primary suitor. This line runs from Renton to Snohomish, plus a link to Redmond via Woodinville. Ultimately that line was purchased by the Port of Seattle, in a deal that keeps King County involved with the line in some measure.

For BNSF it was a low producer with minimal traffic from the perspective of a nationwide carrier. For short lines - currently bidding on the opportunity to serve the customers along those rails - it's a way to get more business. For history buffs it's one of the last vestiges of the Northern Pacific that exists in the area; NP once had tracks on both sides of Lake Washington, and the northbound route ran all the way to the Canadian border. What remains serves three big customers and few smaller ones. Some of the tracks date to the 1940s and maximum speed on the line is about 30mph in most places.

Plenty can be found on the Internet about the rough back-n-forth political battle that has shrouded this purchase. What lingers still is the uncertainty over what will happen with this route. Bits of it are being whittled away slowly from the south. In 2007 it was announced that the right-of-way just north of Interstate 90 would be abandoned because it was too costly to add rail into an upcoming freeway project that the line crossed over (the line has since been severed, and the crossover removed from I-405). This leaves the historic Wilburton Trestle unused, along with all the track between Factoria and Coulon Park in Renton.

Eastside Rail Now! has done a great job of keeping the potential uses of this line alive in the minds of the region's decision makers, and continues to remain involved as transportation plans for the are formulated.

Open Houses get Opinions about Woodinville Sub

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.

Sound Transit - New Plan Coming to November Ballot

A trimmed-down version of the rejected 2007 Sound Transit plan will be back on the ballot this coming November. Thankfully it once again offers some transit relief to the Eastside.

But the controversy over this measure doesn't seem to end. Ron Sims, King County Executive, is the only member on the Sound Transit Board against the ballot measure, saying it's too early to put the proposal to voters. Greg Nickels, Seattle Mayor, dukes it out with Ron Sims in this Editorial.

From my point of view, we cleared this dinner table back in the 1930s when the Interurban Rail Line with abandoned - a point made more real down at the south end of Boeing Field when the new Light Rail crosses over the old Interurban right-0f-way. Now it's going to take a lot of effort and money to set the table again and get back to the point we were when the tracks were pulled in favor of busses and cars. Why wait? We'll have to pay no matter what...it may as well start now.

Bellevue Council Still Studying Light Rail

Despite the November 2007 defeat of the "Roads and Transit" proposition that was put before voters, Bellevue still feels that Light Rail is a viable option for the future in terms of transport between Seattle and the Eastside.

I agree with them.

The are continuing their research on the subject. I think if the fuel prices of today were in play last November that we wouldn't be scratching our heads, trying to figure out how to get more transit to East King County. A lot more people would have beeen behind the measure, had they been paying $4.00+ per gallon at the time.

Opinion Piece on Rail Service in Central Puget Sound

Think it's new and modern to concoct huge over-arching transportation plans for the Central Puget Sound? Think again. Ross Anderson wrote this Opinion Piece on rail transit in Seattle; aside from discussing Seattle's streetcar future, he also reminds us that the region has a long history of "forward-thinking consultants" and lavishly grand schemes to advance the lifestyle of King County. Think transit tunnel under Lake Washington, huge civic centers, and all of Mercer Island turned into a city park....in 1912.

There is also a long history of people voting down those plans, and ultimately choosing the cheapest alternative available at the time. So in a way the message is "we want mobility now, but we don't want to pay for it."

Port of Seattle OKs Eastside trail deal

Agreement between Port of Seattle and BNSF has finally been signed for the Woodinville Subdivision. BNSF is choosing a short line operator for the customers still on the line, and advocacy groups are now jockeying for position as right-of-way uses by people and trains are proposed for the future. One group wants "further study" on the line's use; that group is made up of people who own property butting up against - or near to - the tracks in Kirkland. "Further Study" in advocacy speak means "We don't want trains in our back yard," or "I bought this property assuming the trains would no longer run someday."


We saw plenty of that when King County was struggling to put in a rail trail along the east shore of Lake Sammamish. Some of the property owners - once BNSF pulled the tracks - went so far as to fence across the right of way and keep the trail in court for years, under the assumption that the right of way would revert to private ownership once the line was no longer used. When that didn't happen, the fight got messy. Eventually King County won out and now the most level route between Redmond and Issaquah can be ridden by bicycle, in the shadow of the Northern Pacific.

As always, we're watching this situation closely. It's a pivotal event for the Eastside, and will have impact on the region's ability to move in, out, and around the east part of King County

King County OKs Eastside Trail + Rail

Excellent news. The Eastside is now that much closer to keeping this line intact!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/361859_trail06.html

Sound Transit Wants Feedback

Sound Transit will be looking for public feedback in June and July, on what plans they should use for the future of light rail in the region. Topics include potential expansion and funding.

High on my list would be the opportunity for passenger rail on the Eastside using the soon-to-be-former Woodinville Subdivision.