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Eastside Rail Corridor Could Get Bicycle Path Makeover

Christie True, who runs the King County parks department,  stands with county executive Dow Constantine before the Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue. A new proposal would put a bike and pedestrian trail atop the historic trestle.
KUOW Photo/Joshua McNichols
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Christie True, who runs the King County parks department, stands with county executive Dow Constantine before the Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue. A new proposal would put a bike and pedestrian trail atop the historic trestle.

King County officials rolled out plans Monday for a bike trail that would run from Woodinville to Renton.

The 16-mile trail would replace parts of an abandoned rail line on the Eastside.

The line was used to carry freight for more than 100 years.

King County Executive Dow Constantine says the project will transform miles of unused corridor.

"This is about recreation but this is about much more than recreation," he said. "The same trail will provide opportunities to commute to work. So if you live in the north and you work at Boeing in Renton you can ride your bike, [if you] live in the south and you work at Google, you can ride your bike."

The Eastside Rail Corridor Master Plan outlines two options: Build a biking and recreation trail on top of the existing rail lines or build it adjacent to the track.

People can comment on the plan until March 31.

And there's more in the works. Cyclists could someday share the corridor with buses and utility lines. Those proposals would come separately.