Like I said in my last post on the rail/trails, don’t break out the bike or your running shoes until the ink is dry and the money has changed hands.  Yesterday’s Seattle Times reported on Sound Transit’s interest in our rail line.

Since the defeat of Proposition 1, officials have been examining other commuter alternatives.  Rail advocates have been out meeting with many of our City Council.  According to the article in The Times, Mayor Lauinger has expressed an interest in some sort of rail line on the corridor.

 Mary-Alice Burleigh, who is on the Sound Transit Board and the Kirkland City Council, had this to say:

“Rail advocates make is seem that (the line) is a relatively easy and inexpensive thing to do. I’m not convinced of that.”

For starters, since the Wilburton tunnel bridge is going to be removed for 405 expansion, a new bridge would need to be built.  Commuter parking and stations will need to be constructed and spots along the rail line, such as the back entrance to Peter Kirk Elementary would need to be secured.  As we all know, the kids cross the

tracks everyday to get to school.  The fence opening marks the back entrance to the elementary school, right across the tracks. 

In the article and in other proposals,I have yet to see how officials plan to address issues like schools crossings.  Everyday most of the kids who walk to Peter Kirk Elementary School enter this back gate to get to the school, necessitating a walk across the railroad tracks.  I wonder how this would be handled if there was a commuter train coming along this line. 

Oh by the way, no mention of the trail in the latest article, so your guess is as good as mine.  If you know of something different, please feel free to share. If you have strong feelings either way on this issue, please do not hesitate to comment here.