Agreements for public ownership of Eastside Rail Corridor to be signed Monday

Photo:  Lorrie McKay, Office of the King County Executive

Most of the King County Council will be on hand Monday, May 12 for the signing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and related documents for the Port of Seattle’s long-awaited acquisition of the Eastside Rail Corridor. The Council on May 5 approved the historic agreement that will bring the BNSF Eastside Rail Corridor into public ownership. The signing will take place at 11:00 a.m. near the tracks behind Bellevue Fire Station #7, 11900 SE 8th Street, with an excellent view of the Wilburton trestle.

Under the agreement, the Port will pay $107 million to BNSF Railway to acquire the 42-mile Eastside Rail Corridor, and King County will pay the Port $1.9 million for a 26-mile easement that runs from Renton to Woodinville and includes the segment known as the “Redmond Spur.” The existing railroad tracks will remain in place while a public process is conducted to evaluate the best use for the corridor, including the location and size of a public trail to run alongside the rail line. Read the legislation and other related documents …

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