The Edmonds Train Trench proposes separating the grade of the train tracks from the surface of downtown Edmonds in the simplest and most visually minimal way. The initial proposal is for the trench to begin starting down south of Edmonds just north of the recently built concrete Willow Creek aquatic passageway. It would descend at standard railroad grade of approximately 1.1 – 1.2 degrees to Dayton Street (2480 feet by measuring wheel) where it would be 24.5 feet clearance, the standard height, below the Dayton Bridge. It would remain then at that below-grade level north to the Main Street bridge, and then begin completing its 1.0 degree standard rise to grade level and the current double tracks near the north end of Sunset Avenue. Both Dayton and Main Street bridges are proposed to be inexpensive, straight, flat crossings and are shown in the pictures below. If necessary to accommodate any variation in slope of the trench from the initial proposal, one or both bridges could be slightly arched. Additional metal decorative and inexpensive pedestrian bridges are envisioned between Main and Dayton. The tops of the concrete walls of the trench would be at the same level as the tracks currently occupy and therefore would not be a visible above ground feature. If deemed cost effective and desirable, it would also be possible to cover the area between Dayton and Main with ventilated slab covers as done in an area of the Reno, NV trench.
The reason the Vancouver, WA shoreline trench and the Reno, NV intra-city trench are cited as examples here is because they are both recent trenches built by firms with experience that could build in our area, and are also trenches that are partially below the water-line, with the necessary engineering provisions for that.
The view from Dayton Street north to Main Street
Dayton Street BEFORE:
Dayton Street AFTER:
Main Street at Ferry Terminal BEFORE:
Main Street at Ferry Terminal AFTER: