Debra Sinick

Posts Tagged ‘rails to trails’

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How Do We Keep Kirkland More Livable?

In Kirkland WA, rails to trails, Uncategorized on October 27, 2010 at 10:36 am

Kudos to Kirkland for being one of the top ten cities in the country for livability because of its walkability.

The Wall Street Journal had an interesting piece on the changing landscape of the suburbs. The suburbs that mirror the amenities of a big city are the ones on the rise.  Kirkland is one of the top ten.

The suburbs that have continued to prosper during the downturn share many attributes with the best urban neighborhoods: walkability, vibrant street life, density and diversity. The clustering of people and firms is a basic engine of modern economic life. When interesting people encounter each other, they spark new ideas and accelerate the formation of new enterprises. Renewing the suburbs will require retrofitting them for these new ways of living and working.

Why is this so important for now and our future as a vibrant city?

These are the places where Americans are clamoring to live and where housing prices have held up even in the face of one of the greatest real-estate collapses in modern memory. More than that, as my colleague Charlotta Mellander and I found when we looked into the statistics, the U.S. metro areas with walkable suburbs have greater economic output and higher incomes, more highly educated people, and more high-tech industries, to say nothing of higher levels of happiness.

There are opportunities to keep our city attractive and exciting.  It’s important to do so for our very livelihood and livability. 

I love Kirkland, particularly for what makes it so unique as a community on Seattle’s eastside. I suspect Lake Washington Boulevard is one of the main reasons Kirkland landed in the top ten of livable cities. We’ve got a vibrant waterfront area and this great boulevard to walk with some amazing views of the Seattle, Lake Washington, and the mountains.

Walking in Kirkland WA

Walking Along Kirkland's Lake Washington Boulevard on a sunny day

Kirkland is unique on the eastside with its great public access to the lake that’s enjoyed by so many.

Enjoying Lake Washington in Kirkland

Walking on a path next to Lake Washington

It would behoove the region, not just Kirkland, to continue developing what people want in their communities.  The struggle to remain viable as a community is critical to our overall economic and individual health and vitality.  The BNSF corridor is the perfect opportunity to expand on Kirkland’s, and the eastside’s, access to walking and biking trails.

Kirkland-BNSF rail line

Walking Along The BNSF Rail Corridor

Imagine people zipping down the trail to work.  Imagine stopping at Starbucks or Metropolitan Market to grab a snack or a cup of coffee after a nice long walk.  Imagine the dollars spent in Kirkland by people who enjoy recreational opportunities right in the city.  Think how much business is brought into downtown Kirkland by all the people who come here to walk along the boulevard.  One only has to see how many people jam The Sammamish River Trail on any given day to see the positive impact that trail has had on Redmond.  We can duplicate that positive energy and environment here in Kirkland.

Here’s what Portland, Oregon has done with their streets. Berkley, CA has bicycle boulevards.

We’re so fortunate here because we don’t have to worry about just using city streets for bicycling.  While we still need city streets here in Kirkland for bicyclists, we have the BNSF corridor to build upon!  If you listen to these videos, and bicyclists in general, they are concerned about cars and safety.  The corridor would help to eliminate some of these concerns.

Times have changed.  We need to pay attention to how this affects our thinking, our planning, and our future growth and development.  Every community’s future, including Kirkland’s, depends on listening to what people like and want in their communities.  Kirkland’s amenities are what draws people to want to work, live, and play here. Let’s not lose sight of this and incorporate positive growth, development, and livability with the resources on our doorstep.


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Sound Transit, Proposition 1, Trails, Rails, and Commuting Through Kirkland, Washington

In Bellevue, Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, rails to trails, WA on October 2, 2008 at 2:38 pm

This past weekend, The Seattle Times came out against Sound Transit’s newest ballot proposal, prompting this post. At a recent Kirkland City Council’s meeting, the City Council came out in favor of the Sound Transit ballot initiative.  Mayor Lauinger was the lone holdout who advocated for better bus service.  Better transportation is critical for this area as it continues to grow.  But better, means exactly that, not just any transportation system, but a better transportation system.

If you check out my post on my eastside blog, I’ve talked about some of the very basic reasons why the transit package is flawed.  The Seattle Times, Ron Sims, and The Eastside Transportation Association are all against it.  The light rail proposal is a plan for 15 years into the future, not a solution to today’s commuter problems.  What will happen now and over the next decade if something more immediate and comprehensive  is not done?

The package, besides  its exorbitant costs for light rail and its lack of short-term solutions to today’s transportation problems, includes money for a demonstration train on the BNSF tracks.  The train along the BNSF railroad line would be a diesel train, a diesel motor unit, that won’t minimize commuting times because it crosses 50+ intersections and travels by schools and neighborhoods at a “fast” 25-30 miles pace along older rails.  (There’s a video on the Eastside Trail Advocates website which shows a 4 minute wait during the middle of the day at the Totem Lake crossing because of a train coming through the intersection.)

We all, including the city, need to become more “green” and look for ways to limit our carbon footprint, ways that are realistic and meaningful, not ways that sound as is they may work, but don’t accomplish the goal to improve our transportation.

Besides commuter rail along the BNSF line being a poor way to improve transportation, a commuter line will take away from the possibility of a fabulous world class trail for the City of Kirkland.  This would be a trail people could use for commuting, biking, and walking.  Ironically at the very same City Council meeting, several of the City Council Members talked about the Kirkland community’s emphasis on walking. The Active Living Task Force is a huge promotor of walking in the community.  This is their mission statement:

“The Active Living Task Force (ALTF), created in 2007, is comprised of residents, community agencies, local businesses, and City representatives.

Our Vision is for community design, services and programs to enhance our quality of life by making it safe, enjoyable and easy for everyone to be physically active in their daily lives.

Our mission is to advise Kirkland policy makers, advocate and provide support for local strategies aimed at promoting community-enriched physical activity as an integral part of everyone’s (including the disabled) daily life.”

It would be great if the City Council would pay attention to the goals of the Active Living Task Force.  One of the city’s goals, according to a comment made by Council Member Jessica Greenway,  is to connect all of Kirkland parks by trail.  The BNSF line is the answer.

A similar discussion has been happening in Bellevue. That city has also been wrestling with support of the Sound Transit package.  The Seattle Times had an article discussing the opposing viewpoints. Bellevue’s Mayor Grant Denniger is for the proposal and Eastside Transportation Association (ETA)  backed by Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman, is not.  Dick Paylor of ETA was quoted in the Times article as saying: “There’s much better choices than what we have been given.”  The group supports ride sharing, road improvements, and a better bus service through $1 billion dollar investment for bus stations.  The bus system would be ready far sooner than a rail line, which is supposed to take 15 years and far more more money.

On many levels the transit package is flawed.  One level affects everyone.  There will be a huge tax increase for a long term solution that may not solve our transportation problems.  I’m not against taxes, that’s so far from my thinking.  If taxes are raised to pay for services, teachers, police and fire departments, health care, and realistic programs, I’ll be first in line.  But I’m last in line for raising taxes for a program that makes no sense.

Another is our immediate transit needs are not being effectively met, and lastly, on a local Kirkland level, we could end up with a commuter line that disrupts Kirkland’s traffic, routes for walking to schools,  separates neighborhoods, and costs us the opportunity for a world class walking/biking/commuting trail.

Still not sure what to think or how to vote?  There’s an open house this weekend at Bellevue City Hall.

What’s your opinion?

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Here’s the Latest from The Port of Seattle Eastside Rail Open House

In King County, Kirkland News, rails to trails on July 13, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Were you able to attend Wednesday night’s Port of Seattle Open House at City Hall? 

If so, what were your thoughts? 

If you weren’t able to make it, you can check on my KIrkland Views post in which I summarized the meeting from my point of view.

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Changes Are Happening in Kirkland, WA. Two Important Meetings Are Coming Up

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, rails to trails on June 2, 2008 at 8:16 pm

What does the future hold for Kirkland, Washington?  As I’ve reported in numerous blog posts, we’ve got the McLeod project, Parkplace, Merrill Gardens, and a trail/commuter train all on the horizon.

Here’s another chance for you to learn more and make your opinions known:

The Trail meeting at the Houghton Fire House June 4th at 7 PM, 6602 108th Ave NE is sponsored by Eastside Trail Advocates.  This is a group of Kirkland residents who are dedicated to a trail along the BNSF tracks while the proper studies are done to determine the best method of improving public transportation.

What will Parkplace look and be like?  Will there be 8 story buildings?  Will there be a movie theater? 

 The final planning commission meeting about Parkplace is scheduled for Kirkland City Hall on June 12th at 7 PM. Make sure your voice is heard.  Can’t attend this meeting?  Then let Angela Ruggeri know what you think. Email Angela at aruggeri@ci.kirkland.wa.us. 

 You can also check out the latest with Parkplace online.  There are two plans on the table.  The first is called the Mixed-Use Plan, which calls for a zoning change and 8 story buildings.  There will be more retail, a large QFC, restaurants, etc. 

 The second is the Office Use Plan, which keeps the currrent 5 story height on  office buildings.  This plan would limit restaurants, retail, and eliminate a hotel.  Hmm, makes me wonder if the developers can’t get their variance for a height restriction, who is really losing here?  What do you think?

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Rails or Trails by Kirkland’s Highlands? It May Be Up To You

In Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, rails to trails on March 24, 2008 at 10:59 pm
BNSF Rail line
Concerned about what could be happening on the BNSF rail line that runs along Lake Washington around the perimeter of Kirkland’s Highlands? You should be.  
I’ve written a lot of pieces about the trails and rails on this blog and watched the trails/rails issue evolve over the last few years.  We’ve gone from a trail to who knows what at this point in time.  For a look at what DMUs, Diesel  Motor Units may look and sound like if they are going by on the BNSF track, take a look at these YOuTube videos from Brian and Emily’s blog. Last week  I attended a meeting of concerned citizens in Houghton about the trail/rail issue.  The rail line impacts many  Kirkland residents from Bellevue on up through Juanita. The group is advocating for a trail on the BNSF line and has formed The Eastside Trail Advocates.   The group is not against better transportation, but wants to ensure transportation improvements make sense.  There doesn’t seem to be any ridership studies done for a commuter train, but there’s a lot of talk about developing a commuter line.  A critical piece is missing here. Is the cart before the horse?

Here are some key points: 

  •  King County Executive Ron Sims supports dual use of the BNSF right of way. Keep the right of way for a future commuter rail line if needed, with interim use as a trail with the rail lines pulled out.
  • A Puget Sound Regional Council study is also for rail banking. Rail banking is the public acquiring of rail lines for trails with the possible future use as a rail line.
  • The Port of Seattle is scheduled to purchase the rail line from mile 5 down in Renton to mile 39 up in Woodinville in April of this year, with a fall closing.  Boeing and BNSF cut a deal to keep Mile 0-mile 5 open for Boeing to transport fuselages.
  • An Eastside Transportation Partnership has formed with members of Sound Transit, WSDOT, and the Puget Sound Regional Council.

The trail advocates are concerned about:

  •   The best use of tax dollars
  • The real cost to build this rail line, its stations, and parking.
  • Safety and street traffic, as many intersections and paths to schools cross over the rail line.
  • Crossing Tracks by Peter Kirk Elementary
  • Destruction of neighborhoods.
  • Noise and pollution if diesel trains are used.
  • The lack of population density along the rail line when compared to the I-405 corridor.
  • The loss of a trail, a potential fabulous amenity for all Eastsiders.

No matter what your opinion, get educated about the rails/trails issues.  If you are in support of the trail, log onto Eastside Trail Advocates and lend your support.

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The Seattle/Eastside Commute: Sound Transit and the BNSF Rail Line

In Exploring Kirkland, Kirkland News, Kirkland WA, rails to trails on February 3, 2008 at 3:27 pm

BNSF Rail line

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.Rail line-back of Peter Kirk Elementary 

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.

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Trains? and planes, and boats, (oops, no planes) for Kirkland, WA?

In Kirkland News, rails to trails on December 18, 2007 at 2:45 pm

(Channeling a bit of Burt Bachrach here!)

Running late to work and traffic is backed up? What to do…Perhaps a  ferry will be at The Kirkland City dock to pick you up. A flash from the past may hit Kirkland. Ferry service was the way to cross the lake until the ‘state of the art” floating bridges were built in the mid 20th century.  Kirkland has been selected by King County for a new ferry service between the University of Washington and the town dock or Carillon Point. 

bnsf-rail-linetrailbest.jpg  

 It looks like the ink is dry on the contract between The King County Council and The Port of Seattle.  Last week  it sounded as if there would be a trail alongside the BNSF tracks here in The Highlands, although last evening’s Seattle PI article did not mention any guarantees.  Here is what was reported in The Seattle PI by Neil Modie:

“According to the memorandum, Sims will seek an agreement with the port by June 30 for the county to purchase two segments of the corridor: a six-mile section from Renton northward to the Wilburton tunnel, and a seven-mile spur between Redmond and Woodinville south of Northeast 145th Street.”

Buying those segments outright would cost the county an estimated $42.5 million, Triplett has said.”

  If you follow my posts on the BNSF train tracks, you can see it has been quite a ride and it’s not over just yet.

 The latest version sounds like this:  The tracks are to be ripped up from Bellevue to Renton because of 405 expansion and the removal of the Bellevue trestle.  The tracks are to remain in place from Bellevue to Snohomish. It sounds as if a trail may be under consideration from Bellevue to Redmond, running right by the Highlands, while keeping the existing tracks.    My guess  is there will be tracks, although not in use. The hope is this will be with the addition of a trail. The line from Redmond to the Woodinville will be sold to the county and looks more likely to be a trail. 

 Whew!  An interesting and convoluted compromise.   The important issue for The Highlands is it looks as if there’s still no guarantee we will receive the trail by our neighborhood.  The County and the Port want to reserve the right to keep tracks in place in case they decide to use them in the future. 

“The agreement provides that the corridor will be considered for “dual usage” to allow “trails and rails to be developed” on it.” (Seattle PI’s Neil Modie)

My concern for both the ferry service and a train, if it ever comes to pass many, many years from now, is parking for commuters, ferry stops, train stations, bridges over intersections, etc? 

Where will all the infrastructure be? 

Where is there space for all of this?

Will commuter parking downtown impact spaces for shoppers at the local merchants? 

How and who will pay for all us?

The costs to redo the tracks, redo existing bridges, build new bridges and parking garages is enormous.  I think it could be years, maybe even decades,before all this is sorted out, never mind acted upon.  King County has  had trouble resolving transportation issues for years, most recently with the defeat of Proposition 1. Given this “track” record, my guess is this will be an issue discussed for many years after we are all long gone!

 I have not heard or read anything about how these other issues will all be resolved.  Here is a bicycle enthusiast’s take on the project. If you have heard about plans to deal with these issues, I would love to hear from you. What is your opinion about all this?

 Bottom line for The Highlands, Kirkland, Juanita, and much of Bellevue,  don’t put your jogging shoes on just yet!

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It’s Not Over Until It’s Over For The Rails To Trails

In Kirkland News on December 10, 2007 at 11:03 am

bsnf-railroadtrackbest.jpgFriday, December 7th was the deadline for The Port of Seattle to get back to Ron Sims regarding the trail and the rails.  The date has come and gone.  Sims had given The Port an ultimatum: If the rails remain, the county isn’t interested.  Building a trail alongside the BNSF tracks would be far more expensive than building a trail over the existing tracks.  Now there is a new date to hear from The Port of Seattle  regarding their plans,  December 11th. Stay tuned!

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Are the Rails Back on The Track by The Kirkland Highlands?

In Kirkland News, rails to trails on December 2, 2007 at 8:07 pm

bnsf-rail-linetrailbest.jpgDon’t grab the dog and your running shoes just yet.  It’s a new week and a new wrinkle for the BNSF tracks that run by our neighborhood.  Just shortly after we were told the tracks between Renton and Woodinville would be ripped out and a trail would be built to connect with the Sammamish River Trail and the Burke Gilman Trail, there are a few new issues with the plan.  So here is the latest:

If the rails stay, then King county is not interested in developing an interim trail.  Accordingly to an article in Seattle PI on the 30th of November, Ron Sims wants the tracks gone.  Some of the Port of Seattle commissioners have a different view.  Commissioner Fisken wants to see the tracks remain, other commissioners feel the issue is not resolved as of yet. 

For Ron Sims, the issue is resolved.  He is ready to pull the county out of the deal if the tracks remain.  His goal is to build a trail over the existing tracks, since the projected cost is $44 million.  If trails are built alongside the tracks, the cost quadruples, going up to $160-230 million dollars.  The county is not interested in either the cost or the liability of running the trail alongside an active rail line. Sims has given the Port of Seattle a deadline of December 7th to determine whether the tracks will be removed.  If the tracks are not to be removed, the deal between the port and the county will be off.

Some commissioners feel it may still be viable to build the trail even if the county pulls out.

 Various community members have weighed in with their opinions about the trail vs. rail.  The bicycle enthusiasts have one view and others have differing thoughts.  I share similar views with the trail boosters.  I would love to see the trail. It would be such a fabulous addition to our already wonderful location.  What a terrific thing to be able to walk for miles along a paved trail which would take you either north or south.   I, too, wonder about the cost for stations, bridges, and parking facilities.  The costs quoted in some other blogs seems to leave some of the other costs out of their analysis.

 What are your thoughts on the latest wrinkles to the plan?  Here’s hoping we have something definitive on December 7th!  Let me see, how many years has this been going on….?

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Rails to trails is back on track in the Kirkland Highlands

In Kirkland News, rails to trails on November 5, 2007 at 1:35 pm

BNSF rail/trail lineThe trail is back on track and the train is off the track for now!  A new agreement has been reached between King County and BNSF railroad.  The rail line will be purchased for 103 million dollars.  The trail will run from the south end of the line in Renton up to Woodinville.  When this trail is joined to existing trails, such as the Burke-Gilman Trail and The Sammamish River Trail, the Seattle/Eastside will have the largest trail system available in the country.  Future use of the area for a railroad along side the trail will not be completely ruled out at this time.

This is wonderful news for The Highlands home owners, since our neighborhood abuts the existing rail line.  A trail right outside “our door” would be a boon to the quality of life and increase the livability for all in the the neighborhood.  I should contact the people at walkscore to see if they can add walking trails to their list of important amenities constituting a good walkscore for a house or a neighborhood. In an earlier post, I commented on the current walkability of The Highlands, which is one of the attractive features for living in downtown Kirkland or The Highlands.

The sticking point in the earlier three way proposal for switching the railroad to trails, Boeing Field, has been taken out of the deal.  The Port of Seattle had no interest in acquiring the field.  With the airport out of the equation, the county and the railroad are able to make a deal. 

 The Seattle Times and The Seattle PI have both come out with  articles on the latest venture between King county and the BNSF railroad.

 On another note, another farewell to The Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. The train had been a wonderful neighborhood treat to see every day.  Last week it was announced the train was having some difficulties on its latest home tracks down by Tacoma. The train is abandoning operations and laying off 50 people. I wish the owners of the train, the Temple brothers and the employees all the best in the future.  I hope the owners and the county are able to strike a deal for a future dinner train from Woodinville to Snohomish.

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