Politics & Government

Kirkland City Council Meeting Starting Early Tuesday

The meeting is earlier this week because of Tuesday's primary election. The council will be asked to authorize removal of the rails and ties from the 5.7-mile Cross Kirkland Corridor, the former railroad line the city bought from King County earlier this

 

The Kirkland City Council will consider a plan to begin removing rails and ties from the at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 7, which will start at 6 p.m., 1.5 hours earlier than usual.

The council is dispensing this week with its regular study session, which typically precedes the regular session and starts at 6 p.m. City Clerk Kathi Anderson said the regular session this week will start at 6 p.m. due to the ; ballots must be in by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

A major issue on the council agenda Tuesday is a request by city staff for approval of its plan to begin removing rails from the Cross-Kirkland Corridor, the abandoned Burlington Northern rail line through town . The rails would be removed beginning early next year, followed by the construction of an 8- to 10-foot wide gravel path that would be finished in 2014.

The total project cost would be $3.6 million, of which $3.2 million has already been acquired. Many railroad supporters are opposed to removal of the ties and rails, arguing it would make any future rail use of the line too costly and unlikely.

The city’s vision for the corridor is for a pedestrian/bicycle trail that will link Kirkland’s parks, businesses and neighborhoods north to south, perhaps followed at some point in the future by a light transit system.

The council meets in the council chambers at , 123 5th Ave. To see the full council meeting agenda, see the city web pages by clicking here.


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