East Lake Sammamish Trail

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 center 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 propsed Master Plan Trail will be located in the same general corridor as the Interim Use Trail. The basic features of the Master Plan Trail include:

Installation of permanent trail surfacing, including a combination of asphalt paving, soft surface for pedestrians/equestrians, and vegetated buffer;
New restroom facilities, with drinking fountains, located at two locations along the corridor;
New parking facilities at three locations along the trail corridor;
Traffic control measures (signage) where the trail crosses private driveways or roadways;
A stormwater management system to control runoff from the trail and parking areas;
Retaining walls where needed to support slopes and reduce embankment areas;
Improvements such as sidewalks and crosswalks at public access points;
Litter receptacles, doggy litter bag boxes, and trail etiquette signs;
Bollards at trail crossings to prevent unauthorized vehicles from driving onto the trail.

Please visit the ELST Phase 2 page for more information of the environmental process.

Project documents

The project documents section contains the following records:

Maps

Project maps are available on their own page.

Parking, access points and restrooms along the trail (PDF, 728KB)

Permits and environmental review

Sept. 2007	Submitted Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to WSDOT and FHWA - Pending Approval
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 - Pending Approval
Jan 2009	Submitted Permit Application to City of Redmond for Redmond Trail Segment - Pending Approval
December 2009	Issue Final EIS
January 2010	Issue NEPA Record of Decision
January 2010	Issue SEPA Notice of Action Taken
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

Project schedule

Project timeline by phase
Jan. 2008	Begin Design of 11 Mile Trail Corridor
July 2008	Complete 30% Design Documents of 11 Mile Trail Corridor
Dec 2008	Complete 60% Design Documents for Redmond Trail Segment
Jan 2009	Submit Conditional Use Permit Application to City of Redmond for Redmond Trail Segment
July 2009	Complete Design Documents for Redmond Trail Segment
February 2010	Advertise for Construction of Redmond Trail Segment
July 2010	Begin Construction of Redmond Trial Segment
April 2011	Complete Construction of Redmond Trail Segment
July 2009	Begin Design of Issaquah Trail Segment
February 2010	60% Design Documents for Issaquah Trail Segment
May 2010	Submit Conditional Use Permit Application to City of Issaquah for Issaquah Trail Segment

Citizens Advisory Group (CAG)

The thirteen-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 metting sumery listings and reports.

Contractor and/or Consultant

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