Council to discuss rail line
By Terry Murry on Monday, December 5th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla City Council will hold a workshop today (Monday) at 4 p.m. and discuss the rail line that runs from 10th Avenue through downtown Walla Walla and travels east to the Port of Walla Walla and the crossing at Airport Way.
According to city staff, there have been several discussions over the past two years with Columbia Rail ranging from inquiries about potential abandonment to coordination with other city projects. During those conversations, the Port of Walla Walla stated it has no need for the line and recently in a meeting with Columbia Rail and Whitman College, Whitman staff stated they would like to see the line abandoned east of Touchet Street.
Columbia Rail, the local railroad operator, leases the rail line from BNSF Railway, the line’s owner. In 2019, with concurrence from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the state regulatory authority for rail, the tracks were taken out of service east of Isaacs Avenue by Watco, the prior rail line lessee and railroad operator.
Since assuming the lease from Watco, Columbia Rail has used the in-service portion of the line west of Isaacs Avenue to show locomotives and rail cars during special events and provide intermittent freight service to Blue Mountain Seed located at the intersection of Oak and Spokane streets.
City staff said the abandonment process is regulated by federal, and possibly state law. Furthermore, the city has been advised it may come down to whether BNSF Railway, the owner of the rail line wants to abandon the line. If so, it will be up to BNSF Railway to follow the proper procedures in doing so.
The purpose of today’s discussion is to talk about the city’s position on the potential abandonment of the line and, as applicable, the desired limits of the abandonment.
Locomotive photo via Columbia Rail
