Rail and trail: staking a claim

After three years of long, complex discussions about an Eastside rail corridor, the conversation will broaden from government and private entities to include the public. This is all good news.

An enthusiastic and unanimous Metropolitan King County Council voted Monday to sign an easement agreement with the Port of Seattle, which intends to buy the 42-mile BNSF Railway corridor between Renton and Snohomish. Final approval is pending with the Port of Seattle Commission.The Port would pay $107 million for the corridor, preserving a key north-south route for public use. King County would pay nearly $2 million for the right to build a hiking and biking trail from Woodinville south. The county would also be the official trail sponsor, for federal purposes.

From Woodinville north, the Port would keep the corridor open for freight service, indirectly preserving future commuter options of the line.

A very valuable and very long corridor has been identified — and saved — for dual transportation and recreation uses. Reconciling these public goods, in the words of County Councilmember Dow Constantine, is the next phase.

Refining the choices, expense and sources of the revenue for what might come next will now be open for public discussions. The vision of dual use comes with a price tag, and with important political and geographical pinch points.

Options for high-capacity transit are wide open and there are competing visions, from public light rail to private commuter-train service. Physically narrow sections along the trail potentially put trail and rail at odds. For all these reasons and more, King County has put escape clauses into the agreement.

For now, celebrate the opportunities. A priceless corridor will be preserved in public ownership. It's a great, good start.