Seattle Trail May Be Expanded

Officials hope a new land purchase will allow them to expand the popular Burke-Gilman Trail to the city waterfront.

The city paid $975,000 for the two pieces of abandoned railroad land stretching two miles along the shore of Lake Union and the Lake Washington Ship Canal, north of downtown, said Peter Lagerwey, the city’s bicycle coordinator.

The final papers were signed Friday to transfer ownership from Burlington Northern to the city.

Construction of a bike path on the corridor would cost $2 million to $3 million, Lagerwey said.

That could be completed by late 1996, he said, barring unforeseen setbacks.The appeal is expected to be resolved in about a year, Lagerwey said.