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Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has finalized a $13.5 million acquisition of permanent easement rights from the Port of Seattle along the 42-mile Eastside Rail Corridor.

The transaction, which followed a year of negotiations after a memorandum of understanding was signed with the port and four other local entities, will enable the utility to acquire fewer large rights of way and easements from private property owners while planning new crossings, said PSE officials in a prepared statement.

The utility's existing natural gas, electric distribution and electric transmission crossings along the corridor had been granted through revocable permits with escalating costs and decreasing terms.

The port purchased the corridor from BNSF Railway Co. in December 2009 for $81 million.