Mr. Sims:

It has come to my attention that King County is in the process of closing a deal with BNSF to purchase the tracks that the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train now uses. Further, it’s my understanding that the intent of the county is to remove the tracks and replace them with a walking trail. I don’t believe this serves the best interests of the county.

As I see it, there are several considerations that need to be taken into account in deciding what to do with the tracks. They can all be lumped under the global term “best interests of the county.” Broken down and examined, I believe they support my contention that removing the tracks (and Dinner Train by extension), doesn’t benefit the county and instead could harm the local culture and economy.

One of the supporting considerations for “what is best” has to do with preserving trail/green access for neighborhoods and providing them with park/recreation access and the county’s role in that. Part of the tracks go though developed areas (such as downtown Renton and Bellevue), as well as over the Wilburton trestle. These cannot be developed into a ‘trail’ per se. However, portions of the track that go through more residential neighbourhoods can have a trail constructed near the tracks.

Another consideration is financial; how will removal of the tracks financially affect the area and King County as a whole? It’s no stretch to say that the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train is a local icon; that it attracts tourists, as well as locals, from miles around and provides employment. The Spirit of Washington is not on its financial last legs with the county subsidizing it to keep it afloat; it’s a popular attraction and accessible to a lot of people, physically and financially.

Yet another aspect to take into account is use. How effective a use of land is it to put in a trail? Again, that supports retaining the tracks, as only locals will use the trails, yet thousands of people every year from various cities come to Renton to enjoy the train (I live in Bellevue and my husband and I have dinner on the train nearly every year). A trail will not become a ‘destination’ for people the way that the Dinner Train is. Again, some trail access can be provided near the tracks, but no substitute for a rail line exists for the Dinner Train.

Finally, there is a historic aspect to consider, which is perhaps more emotional than practical but is important to many people nonetheless, as it influences the Seattle Metro environment that so many of us love. The Wilburton trestle is a historic landmark - the largest wooden trestle in the Pacific Northwest. How will it fare when it is no longer being used? Trains and their interconnecting web are a key part of the history of Washington and the wine industry is a major source of employment and income for the state, and the Dinner Train ties these two things in nicely. It adds a bit of class and nostalgia to the Seattle image and provides a unique experience for people.

Should the county succeed in purchasing the tracks from BNSF, I urge you to require that any proposal for the use of that area to include a provision for the continued operation of the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. I don’t see there is any other reasonable alternative that would serve the interests of the county.