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To learn more about the land swap and to track its progress, please visit www.metrokc.gov.
View a map. The proposed trail will follow the red line depicting the BNSF corridor. |
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Airport for a Rail-Trail:
King County's Historic Land Swap
On February 26, 2007, representatives from King County, the Port of Seattle and BNSF Railway came together to sign a preliminary deal for an historic land swap. The deal formalized proposals for King County to buy 40 miles of rail corridor stretching from North Renton to Snohomish, Wash., and develop it as a hiking and biking rail-trail. In exchange, King County will transfer to the port ownership of the King County International Airport.
This unique land swap, which would be one of the largest in Washington's history, has garnered excitement from trail enthusiasts as well as local and state politicians. The deal was endorsed unanimously by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and praised for its creativity by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
At a recent press conference Murray stated that the deal was a "very significant step forward in meeting future transportation needs," and emphasized its importance for the environmental and economic growth of Washington. Matt Rose of BNSF Railway noted that if the county and port hadn't come up with this proposal, BNSF would have sold the corridor to developers for construction of high-rise condos and expensive houses.
The King County land swap demonstrates the high priority that Washington and particularly King County place on developing trails. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is encouraged and excited by this idea, and hope it will spark additional creative strategies to develop rail-trails throughout the United States.
There will still be much discussion and official approval required by the King County Council and the Port of Seattle in the next few months to finalize details of this monumental deal.
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