The Port of Seattle signed an agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad this morning to buy a 42-mile rail corridor from Snohomish to Renton.
The port is buying the corridor for $107 million. King County is contributing $2 million toward the purchase and is granted the right for a future trail on the southern 32 miles of the corridor.
The corridor from Snohomish to Woodinville is intended to be used for rail freight service, although Snohomish County is making moves to try to get commuter rail service on the line.
Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani and King County Executive Ron Sims signed the agreement in Bellevue near the Wilburton trestle.
With an agreement in place, the federal Surface Transportation Board will consider the port and King County’s application for future use of the corridor.
The Port of Seattle plans a public process to hear input on how King County residents would like to see the rail corridor used.
More information at: http://www.portseattle.org/business/realestate/eastsiderail.shtml
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