Walla Walla County Commissioners to weigh rail support and new parking rules

WALLA WALLA — The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners will meet today (Monday) to bolster regional freight infrastructure before turning their attention to local traffic safety concerns.

The commissioners will convene at 10:30 a.m. to authorize a letter of support for Columbia Rail’s application for a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant. The funding would support Phase 1 of the Walla Walla Valley Freight Rail Upgrade Initiative, a multi-phase project aimed at rehabilitating 16.8 miles of critical infrastructure.

The proposed upgrades include installing over 103,000 feet of continuous welded rail and replacing more than 18,000 ties. Commissioners noted that local farmers and industries rely on the Columbia Walla Walla Railroad as an economical option for moving grain to river terminals. Without these improvements, officials warned that businesses would face higher costs and a greater reliance on truck transportation.

At 1:30 p.m. the board will move to a public hearing regarding Ordinance No. 510, which proposes new parking prohibitions on specific county roads. The ordinance targets Pikes Peak Road, Foster Road, and West Prentiss Road following public complaints about nuisances created by long-term parking.

If approved, the regulations would implement a two-hour parking limit on both sides of these stretches, with a total parking ban between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. County staff indicated the rules are necessary to protect the character of the neighborhoods and prevent detrimental impacts on private property.

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Elkhorn Media Group