The corridor was purchased from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in 2008 in a complicated deal concocted among King County, the Port of Seattle, Puget Sound Energy and other agencies.

Plans included converting the tracks to a pedestrian/bike path that could be shared with a light rail line. There was also a proposal for a possible major power line in the corridor.

The suit contends the plans have already damaged property values and once the rail line ceased to be a rail line, it could not be sold or developed.

Tom Stewart, one of the lawyers for the landowners said, “Washington law and federal law plainly establish that an easement for railroad use is only a surface easement and the railroad, which only had an interest in the surface, can’t transfer or sell to the Port or any of the other Defendants anything more than what it owned.”

Attorneys say the proposed class suit will consist of hundreds of potential class members.

King County officials said Wednesday they are aware of the lawsuit, but are unable to discuss until it is fully reviewed.