Port CEO Signs Agreements for Eastside Rail Corridor

Yoshitani, King County Executive Ron Sims also finalize easement for trail

After a special Commission meeting granting him authority to do so, Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani signed an agreement today with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, acquiring the 42-mile rail corridor located in King and Snohomish Counties. Yoshitani was joined by King County Executive Ron Sims in signing an interlocal agreement, granting King County an easement to develop a trail on 32 miles of the corridor.

"Today's signing is the culmination of years of efforts to bring the corridor into public ownership," said Commission President John Creighton. "As a kid, my school bus took me past the Wilburton trestle every day - it is particularly meaningful to me that the Port was able to preserve this irreplaceable asset in public ownership, which will be a great benefit to Eastside communities and to the entire County for generations to come. Without the Port's investment, the corridor would likely have been fragmented and lost to the public forever. I am also very pleased that we are able to partner with King County to ensure that the corridor can be used in multiple ways, both now and in the future."

Yoshitani and Sims signed the agreements in Bellevue, with the Wilburton trestle serving as the backdrop for the ceremony. "The trestle serves as the perfect symbol for our partnership," said Yoshitani. "For decades, the bridge supported jobs and commerce on the Eastside. Today, the trestle stands as a symbolic bridge to the corridor's future."

The Port is acquiring the corridor from BNSF for $107 million. King County is contributing $2 million toward the purchase price, and is granted an easement for trail development on the southern segment of the corridor. The northern portion of the corridor will continue to be used for freight service.

Now that the agreement documents have been signed, the Surface Transportation Board must approve the Port and King County's application to "rail-bank" portions of the corridor. The Surface Transportation Board is expected to grant approval in the fall of this year. At that time, the Port will begin a public process to gain input on how King County citizens would like to see the rail corridor used.

More information about the Port's purchase of the corridor and the public process that will follow is posted on this site.