Orphan Road

The BNSF corridor deal is heading towards the finish line:

Under the deal's latest iteration, the port would grant King County the right to buy the southern, rail-banked sections before the acquisition closes. King County would contribute $2 million to the purchase price, retain right of first refusal and sponsor the trail, which would be "developed in phases after a regional determination regarding the dual use of the Corridor for transportation/trail," according to a canceled port presentation.

Yoshitani said he believed a $300,000 Sound Transit and Puget Sound Regional Council study of the rail corridor's feasibility as a commuter line would include a cost/benefit analysis.

"How that study sorts out is of great importance and relevance to us," said Yoshitani, who added that the port scheduled the public input process to begin next winter.

That's as it should be. Let's have ST and the PSRC do a feasability study and then figure out what the best use is for the corridor with respect to transit. Sound Transit seems much more open to the idea now that Prop 1's over and done with.