Building the East Lake Sammamish Trail will preserve an existing transportation corridor, provide the community with a valuable recreational facility and link with the regional trail system. When the trail is completed, users will be able to travel a multi-use trail from Marymoor Park in Redmond to Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah. The continuing increase in population has put pressure on existing recreational facilities in the area. A trail is needed that will accommodate a full range of trail users of all ages and skill levels, such as walkers, runners, wheelchair users, bicyclists, in-line skaters, and equestrians. The trail will also provide an option for commuters and provide another link between business centers.

Developing the East Lake Sammamish Trail on the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Right of Way has been challenged due to the proximity of the proposed trail to residences and the safety and privacy concerns of those living along this corridor.

At the time of publication of this web page, all legal challenges had been declined, with the courts ruling in favor of King County and the proposed trail.

King County prepared the Interim Use and Resource Protection Plan as the first step to developing the East Lake Sammamish Trail. This plan was adopted to identify impacts and mitigation related to the new use of the abandoned rail bed. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this first phase was released on May 19, 2000 and the Final EIS was adopted by King County in December of that year. The EIS evaluated three alternatives for alignment of the interim trail.

The length of time it will take to complete development of the East Lake Sammamish Trail is due to a number of aspects including review of environmental concerns, permitting and legal challenges, and time associated with designing such a project. As planning for the East Lake Sammamish Trail moves forward, King County will review all the environmental concerns to ensure resources are protected. There are specific federal and state guidelines that direct such an environmental review. Permit applications take time to process, and legal challenges to permits can take time and other resources to resolve. Designing such a project also can be lengthy and often other steps in the development process are not possible until design is complete.