East Lake Sammamish Trail

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Project Update - Issaquah Segment

Invitation to Bid (January 2012)

Design and Permitting Activities:

Bid Opening re-scheduled to Feb. 7, 2012
Pre-Bids Conferences and Site Tours of the Issaquah Trail Segment – January 3, 2012 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Advertised the Issaquah Trail Segment project on Dec. 13. This will result in a March Notice to Proceed date and an April start date for construction
Submitted 100% construction documents to City of Issaquah, King County Procurement, King County Parks, King County Facilities Management Division for final review and approval – 11/08/2011
Submitted Clearing and Grading Permit Application to City of Issaquah – 7/26/2011
PSRC approved the project be moved from “Candidate” to “Obligated” for grant funding
The request to transfer “Lead Agency” from KC Roads to KC Parks for federally funds was approved

Permits Received:

Received Nationwide Permit approval from US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Received Hydraulic Permit approval for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
Received Substantial Development Permit from City of Issaquah
Received Shoreline Permit approval from Department of Ecology. 21 day comment period closed. No comments received.
General Stormwater Permit (DOE)

Project Update - North Sammamish Segment

Due to budget issues, the scope of work for design of the North Sammamish Trail Segment has been amended so that work can begin on the long lead items. Amendment No. 22 has been submitted and approved. Parametrix has begun design of North Sammamish Segment.

Project Update - Redmond Segment

This segment is now complete. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on November 7. Photos from the ceremony are posted here.

Project summary

The East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) project includes design and construction of an alternative non-motorized transportation corridor and a multi-use recreational trail along 11 miles of the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad corridor on the east side of Lake Sammamish. The trail will provide access to recreation, employment, and retail in the cities of Redmond, Sammamish, and Issaquah and complete a link in the King County regional trails system.

As described in the Project History, the development of the trail is occurring in two phases:

Phase 1, the Interim Use Trail and Resource Protection Plan

Phase 1, Interim Use Trail: The Redmond and Issaquah sections of the Interim Use Trail, were completed and opened in March 2004. Construction of the last segment of the Interim Use Trail through the City of Sammamish was completed and opened in March 2006. The Interim use Trail is now approximately 11 miles in length, beginning at Gilman Boulevard in Issaquah and ending north of NE 70th Street in Redmond. More information.

Phase 2, the Master Plan Trail

The proposed Master Plan Trail will be multi-use to accommodate use by pedestrians, non-motorized wheeled vehicles, and equestrians. The proposed Master Plan Trail will be located in the same general corridor as the Interim Use Trail. More information.

The Master Plan Trail is being designed and constructed in phases that are dependent on budget availability. More information. The current plan is to design and construct the East Lake Sammamish Master Plan Trail in the following phases/segments (not necessarily in this order):

Redmond Trail Segment - NE 70^th St. to City of Redmond/City of Sammamish border
Issaquah Trail Segment – Gilman Blvd. to City of Issaquah/City of Sammamish border
Sammamish Trail Segment North A - from Redmond City Limit to Weber Point
Sammamish Trail Segment North B - from Weber Point to Inglewood Hill Rd.
Sammamish Trail Segment South C - from City of Issaquah/City of Sammamish border (SE 43rd Way) to SE 33rd St.
Sammamish Trail Segment South D - from SE 33rd St. to Inglewood Hill Rd.
Parking Lot and Restroom at Inglewood Hill Rd.
Parking Lot and Restroom at SE 33^rd St.

Project Funding

Funding for the East Lake Sammamish Master Plan Trail project is provided in part by the 2008-2013 voter-approved Proposition 2 Parks Open Space and Trails Levy.

Construction of the Redmond Trail Segment was approved in the 2009 budget.
Construction of the South Issaquah Trail Segment was approved in the 2010 budget.
Construction of the North Issaquah Trail Segment was approved in the 2011 budget.
A Federal transportation grant for $975,000 was awarded for construction of the Issaquah Trail Segment.
A Federal transportation grant for $1.5 Million was awarded for construction of the North Sammamish Trail Segment.

Project documents

The project documents section contains a variety of records, including reports, cosntruction documents, maps, and Citizen Advisory Group materials.

Permits and environmental review

Environmental Process for ELST

September 2007	Submitted Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to WSDOT and FHWA - Approved
December 2008	Submitted National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) to WSDOT and FHWA - Approved
August 2008	Submitted Air Lease Agreement to WSDOT for portion of trail through the SR 520 and SR202 Rights-of-Way; Request for Air Lease Agreement has been cancelled
Jan 2009	Submitted Permit Application to City of Redmond for Redmond Trail Segment; Request for Air Lease Agreement has been cancelled
April 2010	Issue Final EIS - Complete
May 2010	Issue NEPA Record of Decision - Complete
May 2010	Issue SEPA Notice of Action Taken - Complete
February 2011	EIS Process - 180 day Appeal Period - Complete

Project schedule

ELST Master Plan Trail Corridor

January 2008	Begin Design of 11 Mile Trail Corridor
July 2008	Complete 30% Design Documents of 11 Mile Trail Corridor

Redmond Trail Segment

December 2008	Complete 60% Design Documents for Redmond Trail Segment
January 2009	Submit Conditional Use Permit Application to City of Redmond for Redmond Trail Segment
July 2009	Complete Design Documents for Redmond Trail Segment
February 2011	Advertise for Construction of Redmond Trail Segment
June 2011	Begin Construction of Redmond Trial Segment
March 2012	Complete Construction of Redmond Trail Segment

Issaquah Trail Segment

July 2009	Begin Design of Issaquah Trail Segment
March 2010	Submit permit applications to City of Issaquah for Issaquah Trail Segment
April 2010	Submit Nationwide Permit (Section 404) to US Army Corps of Engineers for Issaquah Trail Segment
April 2010	Submit Clean Water Act (Section 401) Water Quality Certification for Issaquah Trail Segment
July 2010	60% Design Documents for Issaquah Trail Segment
June 2011	Complete 100% Design Documents for Issaquah Trail Segment
July 2011	Advertise for construction of Issaquah Trail Segment
October 2011	Begin construction of Issaquah Trail Segment
October 2012	Complete construction of Issaquah Trail Segment

Project history

Railroads operated along the East Lake Sammamish corridor from 1885 to 1996. In 1996, the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railwayd (BNSF) suspended railroad operations along the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish. In April 1997, the Cascade Land Conservancy purchased the active railroad corridor from BNSF. Also in 1997, King County and the Land Conservancy requested that the Surface Transportation Board grant interim trail use and railbanking status to this important corridor. Railbanking allows the development of inactive railroad corridors as recreational trails, so that such facilities are preserved for reestablishment of railroad use, should the need later arise. This corridor had been identified as an addition to the regional trail system as early as 1971.

The application to railbank the corridor was approved in August 1998 and a federal "Notice of Interim Trail Use" was issued. King County purchased the railbanked corridor from the Land Conservancy in September 1998 to develop it into the East Lake Sammamish Trail.

In 1999, King County held three community meetings to discuss trail planning and formed a Citizen Advisory Group (CAG). However, a number of important decisions for the long-term, permanent trail were not yet ready for evaluation, including final alignment of the trail, ultimate users of the trail, trail configuration and width, and trail amenities and support facilities. Because such final decisions are complex and require further public process and discussion to provide meaningful evaluations, the County is developing the East Lake Sammamish Trail in phases. The first phase was the Interim Use Trail; the next phase is the Master Plan Trail.

King County has also initiated a program of restorative maintenance along the East Lake Sammamish Trail corridor. In addition, County maintenance staff are often required to remove household waste, yard clippings, and construction debris left by others in ditches and elsewhere in the public right of way.

News releases

News Release: "King County officially opens Redmond stretch of East Lake Sammamish Trail" November 7, 2011
News Release: "Redmond segment of East Lake Sammamish Trail to open ahead of schedule, under budget" October 21, 2011
News Release: "East Lake Sammamish Trail paving work requires closure through Redmond stretch" March 3, 2011
News Release: "East Lake Sammamish Trail plans take next step" May 27, 2010

Citizens Advisory Group (CAG)

The 13-member East Lake Sammamish Trail Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) was convened by King County to provide local and user input into the East Lake Sammamish Interim Trail Use Plan (Phase I) and Master Trail Plan (Phase II) and to ensure the trail plans reflect the input and values of our multi-faceted community. CAG responsibilities include contributing a community perspective for all aspects of the project, advising King County on factors which may impact the trail project, assisting with public outreach efforts, and producing a written summary of CAG final recommendations for the Interim Use and Master Plan Trail. Please visit the documents page for CAG meeting summary listings and reports.

Contractor and/or Consultant

Design Architect:
Parametrix, Inc.
411-108th Avenue NE, Suite 1800
Bellevue, WA 98004-5571

Staff contact

Gina Auld
Project Manager, Facilities Management Division
201 S. Jackson St. #700
Seattle, WA 98104
Gina.auld@kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206-263-7281
Fax: 206-263-6217