Courtesy of Colorado Railcar
These single and double deck DMU’s (Diesel Multiple Units) are operating in revenue service in South Florida. DMUs are lighter than commuter rail, more fuel-efficient, quieter, require shorter platforms and can carry bike racks. They can operate on regular freight rail track or on rails embedded in streets. A bi-level car can carry up to 188 passengers.

On Dec. 11, the Seattle Port Commission gave Port CEO Tay Yoshitani authority to complete the purchase of the 42-mile Eastside rail corridor with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF).

The price for the corridor is $103 million; another $4 million was added for contingencies such as legal fees and other costs associated with the purchase, said Mike Merritt, Port of Seattle’s government relations manager.

“We expect to close the sale around September 2008,” said Merritt. “A lot of due-diligence has to take place before the sale closes. … The Port is committed to the idea of dual use for the corridor, including both rail and trail uses. When and how those uses might take place will be the subject of a public process that we envision will happen in the coming months. Details of that process are not settled.”

Editor’s note: The City of Carnation is sending letters to residents this week addressing the Christmas Eve murders of the Anderson family. The letter is published here.

Members of the Carnation Community,

Traditionally this is the time of year when we are focused on holiday celebrations; however, instead our community finds itself mourning the loss of a wonderful family. Words cannot begin to describe the heinous crime that has been committed and the loss of the Anderson family. Our hearts go out to the Andersons’ family and friends. We want them to know that they do not face this tragedy alone; they have an entire community with them.

In spite of this horrible crime in our community, we wish to reassure the residents of Carnation of the safety of our city. Carnation enjoys the lowest crime rate in King County and is served well by the Carnation­-Duvall Police Department. We must remain vigilant and look after ourselves and our neighbors, but we cannot let the inexplicable acts of two people shake our sense of safety. Carnation has been and remains a safe place to live and raise our families.