Rail backers fear trail would doom plan

Port of Seattle commissioners voted unanimously Friday to turn an Eastside rail corridor into one of the country's premier hiking and biking trails while still allowing for the possibility that passenger trains might run right next to joggers and cyclists one day.

As Port, King County and conservation leaders praised the potential deal, some rail advocates denounced it as expensive and likely to kill future passenger service on the corridor between Renton and Woodinville.

"When developed we will have one of the finest recreational trail and transportation trail systems in the U.S.," said Matt Cohen, a lawyer representing the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Cohen said trail users would be willing to share the space with trains.

"When the time comes to share, the trail community will embrace the opportunity. I assure you we will," he said.

But Chuck Mott, leader of a pro-rail group, All Aboard Washington, predicted that would never happen because property owners near the trail would not let trains return.

Mott's group is trying to help private investors buy the corridor from its owner, BNSF Railway, put passenger trains on it — and build a trail.

"All without a single dime from taxpayers," he said.

Although supported by the Port, county and BNSF officials, the proposed deal is far from done.

Port commissioners on Friday approved a nonbinding agreement to negotiate a final agreement. They said it is important to move quickly because BNSF might sell the 42-mile corridor to private developers.

They vowed the public would get a chance to weigh in on the proposal.

Under the tentative deal, the Port would pay $103 million for the corridor, which runs from Renton to Snohomish and contains an eight-mile spur from Woodinville to Redmond.

King County would develop a trail on the southern portion of the corridor at an estimated cost of $44 million to taxpayers. BNSF would rip up the existing tracks and clean up any contaminated soil.

Freight trains would continue to roll on the northern portion between Woodinville and Snohomish. The Port would receive 12 acres on Harbor Island from the county to expand its cargo operations.

Proponents of the deal claim the existing tracks are not capable of handling modern mass-transit trains so they should be torn up. Sound Transit hopes to conduct a $16 million study on the feasibility of bringing passenger rail service to the corridor.

Mott disagrees about the condition of the tracks. With a few improvements, passenger trains could run on the corridor, he said, adding that investors — whom he did not want to name — are willing to offer more than $103 million to BNSF.

"We need to preserve it as a rail corridor now," he said. "The need is now. How can politicians say they want to reduce carbon emissions and allow an important rail corridor to disappear?"

Staff reporter Keith Ervin contributed to this report.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com.