Committee forwards maintenance and operation agreement with Sound Transit covering Downtown Redmond Link through Marymoor Park and trail

At the March 18, 2025 Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee meeting, staff presented a proposed ordinance that would authorize the county executive to sign a maintenance and operation agreement with Sound Transit covering segments of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension that run through King County property in Marymoor Park and the East Lake Sammamish Trail corridor.

Mary Bergannon of Council Central staff summarized the five sections of the proposed agreement, which define responsibilities for operation, inspection and maintenance of trails, guideways, drainage infrastructure and ponds on county property; set access and notice requirements when Sound Transit must interrupt trail use; allocate responsibility for landscaping, graffiti abatement and drainage; and establish a waterline connection to the Marymoor Village station for future county park use.

Bergannon and deputy parks director Doug Hodson described three specific environmental mitigation areas where the agreement assigns responsibility for ongoing mitigation related to crossings at Bear Creek and the Sammamish River and the Upper Sammamish boathouse site. The staff report identifies an estimated annual monitoring reimbursement to King County for the Bear Creek mitigation area of about $370,000; park tree‑trimming along the guideway would be done by King County and reimbursed by Sound Transit, estimated at about $4,000 per year. Bergannon said legal counsel identified no issues and that the agreement is consistent with earlier purchase and sale and betterment agreements.

Council members emphasized the opportunity to improve station‑to‑park connections and asked about timelines. Parks staff said construction of a pedestrian connection from the station to the Marymoor Park pathway network had begun and that the trail connection is on track to open when the station opens on May 10. Bergannon noted typical environmental mitigation monitoring periods are about 10 years.

The committee moved to forward proposed ordinance 2025‑0010 with a due‑pass recommendation; the roll call showed five ayes, no nos and no excused votes. The ordinance will be forwarded to the full Council on the regular schedule for the April 1, 2025 meeting and, if no objection, placed on the consent agenda.