[Malachai Constant]

Finally

[Quark]

Yeah, I saw that too. The fight against it was very selfish - many of those houses were built after 1971 when the concept was born and the Rails to Trails act (or whatever it is) was passed - what did they think was going to happen? It's like moving to Lake City, and then complaining about Rick's neon pink legs signage.

[Eric]

Typical NIMBY stuff. Even if people lived there before rails to trails, they still moved in knowing that that right of way belonged to the railroad beforehand and could have been activated. I probably wouldn't be thrilled about a trail so close to my house either out of self-interest, but a trail certainly beats having trains passing in the middle of the night.

[-lol-]

[Malachai Constant]

The article tells most of this but to clarify the facts. The trail was used as a railroad up to about 1985 we used to live next to it as then there were a lot of old funky cabins near the lake. There was maybe one train a week we called the "butter train" as it just went to Darigold. Discussion of putting a trail there was current even then. It never was these people property as the railroad dates back to the 1890's in fact there was a huge sawmill at Monohan which burned down in the 1920's. My opinion is that most of these people thought the land would be a nice addition to their property rather than hated the concept of a trail that much. Since lakeside property is probably over a million for a lot now I assume almost all of the original owners have probably sold out to new money. If you have ever rode your bike from Issaquah to Redmond on East Lake Samm Way you would appreciate how nice the trail would be for families and for conditioning. I agree it would not be a major hinking destination any more than the Burke Gilman Trail (which is the remainder of the railroad). Gilman is the old name for Issaquah.

[Backpacker Joe]

The property should default to the people who live there! None of YOU would want strangers walking/running/biking in that close to your homes. TB

[peppersteak'n'ale]

I just drove the length of this trail and noticed some people have already "incorporated" it into their properties using it for parking, gardens and a soccer field. In some places the railroad grade seems to disappear with it going right up against the backs of houses and through the middle of neighborhoods. I'm not sure how they're going to route a walking trail through some of these areas

[Backpacker Joe]

Train tracks that are or arent being used is one thing. F-ing strangers screwing around right there in your yard is quite another. I say again, NONE of you would want such a thing. But you're all fired up to make OTHERS have to deal with it. This is B/S! TB

[Malachai Constant]

We all have strangers walking, riding and jogging right past our property it's called roads sidewalks and bikepaths some of them even ride cars and motorcycles. This is not really any different. Everyone used to walk down the tracks when the trains were there too. The county plan even puts fences on either side.

[Backpacker Joe]

Its NOT the same. What roads, sidewalks or anthing else SPLITS your property? I grew up here. I have friends who live on those tracks. There werent enough people walking down them to make this happen. This is more PC BS. More degridation of property rights. That land should have defaulted to the owners whose land borders BOTH SIDES OF IT!

[Malachai Constant]

I have a road that splits my property it is an easement to give the neighbors access lots of people do.

[Snowshoe Hare]

[Grinch]

The easment across all these properties was for the railroad. I am not an real estate attorney, but usually when an easment is no longer needed the property goes back to the people who own it. The county stepped in and said "we want that land" which they had no right to. The main problem with this section of trail is going to be all the driveways crossing it. People will be cruising on their bikes and cars will be trying to get out of their driveways, I see many collisions happening. I only live 1/2 mile from the trail, ride my bike to Redmond on many occasions, and I think I will still use Eastlake. I don't want to have to slow down for all the driveway crossings. I have used Eastlake for 12 years and been fine.

[Damian]

Excellent news. I didn't think this would ever end, let alone turn out this way. Can't wait to ride it! Damian

[Malachai Constant]