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No, this isn't downtown Seattle or San Francisco. It's Issaquah, and an idea -- the Millennium Trolley Project -- that backers hope will be taking people for a ride through town by the end of this year.
Organizers of the project envision historic streetcars crowed with shoppers and sightseers traversing the abandoned Burlington Northern railroad tracks through Issaquah, from the historic Depot just north of Sunset Way to the Lake Sammamish State Park boat launch.
Undeterred by rush-hour traffic, the trolley would roll down the Rainier Boulevard corridor, across Gilman Boulevard, under Interstate 90 and past Pickering Place to the Lake Sammamish Park boat ramp, connecting Issaquah's past with the future.
But like an overloaded car on a steep grade, the trolley project became bogged down in politics and delayed by competing interests. The Issaquah Historical Society's plans became wedged between King County Parks' development of a bike trail on the rail bed, and residents along East Lake Sammamish who dispute the county's right to ownership of the 12-mile railroad easement.
When the county began removing rails and ties from the track last spring, progressing from the north end of Lake Sammamish to the southern terminus in Issaquah, the Historical Society appealed to the City of Issaquah for help. Concerned at the thought of the restored historic Issaquah train Depot with no railroad tracks in front of it, the city intervened. Removal of the ties and rails was halted at Gilman Boulevard, while the city negotiated the purchase of the last stretch of railroad right-of-way down to the Depot, at a cost of about $1 million.
"We fought as hard as we possibly could," said Greg Spranger, coordinator of the Millennium Trolley Committee as well as executive director of Main Street Issaquah.
The threat of a lawsuit by East Lake Sammamish residents over the trail issue actually rekindled flagging interest in the trolley project to move forward before the tracks were gone.
"It's always been a dream," Spranger said. "If we're going to do something with the Depot, we need to do something with the tracks."
For about 16 years, the Historical Society has floated ideas for using the the tracks and establishing some kind of rail transportation from historic downtown Issaquah to destinations north of town. Those ideas coalesced into definite plans and artist renderings after Burlington Northern's last trains quit serving the Darigold butter plant more than four years ago.
The old tracks by the Depot still get some occasional use, when the Historical Society pulls out its handcar for rides down the siding to the Front Street crossing during Issaquah's old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration. But mostly, the rail bed just lies there as a reminder of the past. But not for long. Now that the tracks are protected, the Millennium Trolley Project is steaming ahead full speed, thanks to a recent anonymous donation. The Historical Society plans to have a trolley running in time for Salmon Days on Oct. 7-8 this year. Committee members recently scouted authentic antique trolleys around the country and found one suited perfectly to Issaquah's needs. They are negotiating an agreement to lease the trolley car in exchange for upgrades and maintenance. Coincidentally, the red trolley with cream-colored trim is the same model as pictured in the artist's rendering that the committee has been using to promote the project.
If the trolley deal is signed, this summer will be a busy one for the Historical Society volunteers, with the need to transport and house the trolley in Issaquah and complete restoration work.
Also, a crew will need training and professional certification to run the trolley, Spranger said. The city already is installing pedestrian crossing signals for the tracks on Dogwood and Front Street. They are aiming to make test runs in September, followed by a dedication ceremony and the trolley's first official run carrying officials and dignitaries to Salmon Days. It may also convey its first visitors during the festival weekend.
The second phase of the trolley development, extending the tracks north of Gilman to Lake Sammamish and south to the Community Center has been put on hold pending the outcome of the dispute over ownership of the rail bed along Lake Sammamish. "It's been a long haul, but we're making tracks," Spranger quipped. "It's really amazing what we've been able to accomplish in a year and a half. It's one of those dreams that we've had for all these years, and not its just thundering ahead."
If you'd like more information about the Millennium Trolley Project, contact the Issaquah Historical Society at (425)392-3500
This Article © 2000 Destination Issaquah.
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