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Print Friendly MapThe Redmond Central Connector will one day stretch 4 miles along a former rail line, the Redmond Spur of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. It's also part of the Eastrail network, which will span 42 miles through King County, connecting Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Woodinville.
The Eastrail (or formerly, Eastside Rail Corridor Trail), built on a former BNSF freight railroad, will one day traverse 42 miles through King County, connecting Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Woodinville. It will also serve as a "spine" in the area's trail systems, by connecting 175+ miles of trails. When fully complete, the trail will connect to numerous others, including the Cedar River Trail, located near the trail’s southern end.
The first section of the Redmond Central Connector opened in downtown Redmond and connects the Bear Creek Trail to the Sammamish River Trail. For this 1-mile stretch, the trail parallels the East Link light rail. Along the paved pathway, you’ll find public art and the Redmond Town Center, which offers shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The east end of the trail offers access to Bear Creek Park, a lush oasis in the heart of the city.
The second phase of the trail, spanning 1.3 miles, continues the trail from the Sammamish River to the Willows business district. It was completed in 2017 and includes a trestle bridge over the river.
A third phase of the trail—the final 1.6 miles—will connect Redmond to Kirkland and Woodinville; the project is awaiting funding.
Other sections of the Eastrail include Eastrail South, Jane Hague Way and the Cross Kirkland Corridor. See Eastrail South for a full description of all trail sections.
Parking can be found in Redmond Town Center (7525 166th Ave. NE) and Bear Creek Park.
See TrailLink Map for more detailed information.
June 18, 2014
It really is a connector.
It connects the Sammamish River Trail to the Bear Creek Trail.
It’s short but nice. It’s wide, well furnished with benches and offers several bits of public art. There is one parking lot attached at Leary Way NE. First hour free; $5 for all day. However, if you can’t trailhead in a shopping mall parking lot, you are behind the curve. ToolBear used the REI lot and did some shopping while there.
It runs across downtown Redmond from the Sammamish River on the west to Bear Creek on the east. It is a piece of the same roadbed that was used for the East Lake Sammamish Trail - about one freeway crossing to the east. What will it take to cross the freeway and connect the two trails? (Probably $X million in a monster ped overpass.)
Combine it with the Bear Creek Trail and a bit of the Sammamish River Trail and you can do a loop in downtown Redmond. It really is downtown. TB has been in this area since the ‘60s and got to see Redmond change from a sleepy dairy town to YuppieVille. He remembers trains running down the Redmond Connector.
Nowadays one piece of public art near Leary Way is flanked by a wall of apartment/condo buildings that runs over a thousand feet. One of them had scaffolding wrapped around it that ran 13 layers high. Not many cows left around Redmond, but there are a number of good trails to enjoy.
Ride on!
ToolBear
Gawking at the sights from his trike
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