Regarding the Redmond Central Connector (RCC) Phase 2 and the recent letter to the editor from Brent Schmaltz:

First of all the RCC is a multi-use trail, not a “hiking trail.” On any given day, you may see walkers, runners, moms or dads with strollers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders and people just hanging out enjoying the scenery.

The RCC is a rail-trail that has been planned since the City of Redmond purchased the BNSF Railroad right-of-way from the Port of Seattle in 2010. RCC Phase 1 opened in 2013, runs one mile from Bear Creek Parkway to the Sammamish River Trestle, and has been quickly adopted by the community.

RCC is part of a larger network of rail-trails called the Eastside Rail Corridor (ERC). Trails will extend from Redmond and Kirkland through Bellevue to Renton. Woodinville and Snohomish County have also gotten into the act and will be opening their own rail-trail networks in the coming years.

RCC Phase 2, opening later this year, connects with Phase 1 and extends 1.3 miles along Willows Road to near Overlake Christian Church. There is a paved trail connection to the Puget Power Trail, enabling people to travel west to Rose Hill and east to Education Hill and beyond to Farrel-McWhirter Park. RCC Phase 2 provides a quick, safe route for cyclists to access Digipen and Willows Road businesses.

Are there street crossings? Of course there are, just as there are along the Sammamish River and Burke Gilman trails. Intersections will be clearly marked. Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers will need to be mindful and obey traffic laws.

RCC Phase 3 (not yet planned) will extend the Redmond Central Connector 1.6. miles to the city boundary at Northeast 124th Street. There are ongoing discussions between Redmond and Kirkland officials about connecting RCC to the Cross-Kirkland Connector (part of the ERC) that now terminates in Totem Lake. The RCC will also connect to the eventual Woodinville/Snohomish County trail system.

Additionally, discussions are underway with Sound Transit, King County, and WSDOT to provide for a direct and safe crossing of SR 520 to link the southern terminus of RCC to the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Someday in the not-too-distant future, we will be able to ride our bikes on connected trails from Golden Gardens Park on Puget Sound in Seattle to Hyak at Snoqualmie Pass!

The RCC is becoming an attractive alternative to the Sammamish River Trail and to walking/biking along city streets and roads. It is an important link in the Puget Sound Region’s growing network of pedestrian-bike trails.

I hope to see a big turnout at the grand opening of RCC Phase 2 later this year.

Tom Sanko

Redmond