Public ownership of the 42-mile parcel that extends through Bellevue from Renton to Snohomish is closer to becoming reality with the adoption of an ordinance by the Metropolitan King County Council. The Council has agreed to give the County Executive up to $26.5 million in negotiating authority to assist in the public-private partnership that is purchasing the BNSF Eastside rail corridor.

“This is the right move at the right time for the Eastside,” said King County Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, whose district includes part of Bellevue. “By preserving the BNSF corridor in perpetuity, we are creating exciting transportation and recreation opportunities for the region.”

Under the adopted ordinance, King County will negotiate for additional interest in the corridor. The agreement would cover King County’s portion of a multi-partner deal which is still being negotiated. While making a financial commitment to the purchase of a portion of the corridor, the Council chose to delay the decision on a specific funding source or the uses of the corridor, until the negotiations on the acquisition of the corridor are complete.

“I will proceed immediately to negotiate for the preservation of this irreplaceable rail corridor for public hiking, biking and other compatible uses,” said County Executive Dow Constantine. “This far-sighted action by the County Council will help meet the growing need for recreation and transportation choices for generations to come, and I commend the members.”

In 2007, the Port of Seattle agreed to purchase the rail corridor and lease the southern portion of the corridor to King County for both use as a recreational trail and possibly an Eastside transportation corridor. Under a Memorandum of Understanding agreed to last month, King County will join the Port and additional regional partners in sharing the cost of the purchase.