State Rep. Strom Peterson and State Sen. Marko Liias say they hope that the legislature will supply money for a study of what to do with railroad tracks through Edmonds.
Peterson, a former Edmonds City councilman, said last week that he, Liias and 21st District Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self have been working together to get the money.
Liias, the assistant ranking minority Democrat on the Senate Transportation Committee, said Wednesday that money for studying the tracks is in the proposed Senate transportation package.
Peterson, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self and Liias are Democrats, representing the 21st District, including most of Edmonds, unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood and northeast of Lynnwood, all of Mukilteo and part of south Everett.
Edmonds city officials are seeking $1.25 million to study what to do with the tracks through Edmonds.
Liias said Wednesday that the transportation package proposed this legislative session by the Senate includes funds for an alternatives analysis of a train-crossing project that he says could eliminate a range of serious vehicular, pedestrian and public safety conflicts along the Edmonds waterfront.
“This would be the necessary first step of a process to address a host of longstanding problems,” Liias said. “As we know all too well, the current rail configuration at Main and Dayton streets blocks access to thousands of commuters, residents, employees and visitors and prevents the timely delivery of critical emergency services,”
Liias added that the long-sought transportation package breaks two years of gridlock in the Republican-controlled Senate, which didn’t consider a transportation package passed by the Democratic House in 2013 and couldn’t pass a transportation package of its own in 2014.
Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling said that the city values the efforts to get the money.
“We know that we will have in excess of 100 trains a day coming through the City of Edmonds by 2030,” Earling said. “Having financing for the alternatives analysis will help clear the way for a solution for our city, for the railroad and for the state.”
Liias said the analysis would determine whether a new crossing could do these things: improve emergency access by eliminating existing restrictions and stoppages; provide unimpeded public and handicap access to the beach, senior center, port, residents and shoreline businesses, shift rail activity to a lower level, eliminating the need for train horns and providing other esthetic improvements; and improve ferry access and allow for increased rail traffic without the need to relocate the ferry terminal.
“This project would mean great strides in improving the livability of our community,” Liias said, “and the analysis is the crucial first stride to get things in motion.”
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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