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Eastrail partners tell Woodinville council: corridor nearing 20 miles open, private partners investing
Summary
Eastrail Partners Executive Director Catherine Hollis briefed the Woodinville City Council on progress along the 42‑mile Eastside corridor, noting about 20 miles are open, major projects underway (Wilburton Trestle, Steel Bridge) and private investments from regional companies that have funded trail amenities.
Catherine Hollis, executive director of Eastrail Partners, told the Woodinville City Council on Oct. 21 that the regional Eastside trail is moving from concept to continuous corridor, with roughly 20 of the planned 42 miles currently open.
Hollis highlighted major work under way along the corridor and said private-sector investment is playing a significant role. "In Bellevue, we worked with Amazon for 7 and a half million dollar investment," she said, and elsewhere partners such as Meta and REI have provided millions toward trail improvements.
Hollis described two headline projects affecting the region: the Wilburton Trestle restoration, which is fully funded and expected to open in about a year, and the Steel Bridge project, a roughly $50 million County‑owned effort that has about $39 million committed so far. Looking at the whole corridor, Hollis said completing the remaining gaps through Snohomish County could cost on the order of $350 million.
She asked cities along the route to continue coordinating land use, public art and development to ensure the trail supports local economies and livability. Hollis said the nonprofit Friends‑of organization focuses on advocacy, partner coordination and bringing private investment to projects the public sector has prioritized.
Council members thanked Hollis and asked what Woodinville should prioritize to attract similar partnerships. Hollis recommended incremental, block‑by‑block private commitments—small pledges to “start a mile” of trail—and continued local leadership on design and placemaking to make the corridor attractive to funders.
The presentation closed with council members and staff noting Woodinville’s recent engagement hosting the East Trail Regional Advisory Council and pledging continued coordination as design and funding move toward construction.
