Traffic & Transit
Eastrail Gets A Boost From Amazon To Overhaul Wilburton Trestle
King County will soon transform a 117-year-old train trestle into an elevated pedestrian and cycling path on the Eastrail system.
BELLEVUE, WA — King County will complete two more segments of the Eastrail system by 2024, including transforming the 117-year-old Wilburton Trestle into an elevated pedestrian and cyclist path, officials announced Monday.
A $7.5 million donation from Amazon will help cover the remaining cost for the $32 million trestle project, which will help connect trail users with regional transit, including four new light rail stations scheduled to open in 2023, when the East Link becomes operational.
"Amazon is excited to help complete these two key segments on the Eastrail and bring this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reality," said Patrick Miller, Amazon's real estate director for Puget Sound. "It is an honor to be part of this public-private partnership, and we appreciate our collaboration with King County and all of the public agencies involved."
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King County said $5 million of Amazon's donation will support work on the trestle, while the other $2.5 million will help complete the Wilburton Trail segment to its north. King County Parks acquired the trestle in 2013.
"Amazon's contribution puts us over the top, providing the remaining funds we need to restore and transform the iconic Wilburton Trestle into an elevated trail connected to high-capacity transit," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "The successful partnership to add the century-old trestle to our growing regional trail network shows that we are most effective when we mobilize the efforts of public and private sectors to achieve shared goals."
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Standing 100 feet tall and stretching 1,000 feet, the former rail corridor will provide pedestrians and cyclists with unmatched views of the skyline and surrounding nature. Built-in deck areas will also offer a place to take a moment and admire the scenery.
The two Wilburton segments will get Puget Sound one step closer to completing the Eastrail network, which will one day connect Snohomish County to Renton over 42 miles of uninterrupted trail. Another 2.5-mile segment is scheduled to open this fall, connecting Renton and Bellevue along Lake Washington with three parks along the way.
The system is jointly owned and managed by King County Parks, Snohomish County, Sound Transit, Puget Sound Energy, and the cities of Kirkland, Redmond and Woodinville.
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