“Interim trail use will provide a broad range of community benefits, including:… giving the downtown an economic stimulus by providing a new off-street transportation route to downtown businesses of all kinds…”
— from a resolution to create a new rail-trail in Tigard
On Tuesday, June 9th, Tigard City Council will vote on whether or not they should assume responsibility for an abandoned railroad line and convert it a non-motorized trail.
The nearly one-mile, 50-foot wide stretch of rail line is adjacent to Tigard Street and extends between Tiedeman and Main Streets (see map below/link here).
According to Duane Roberts at the City of Tigard, Portland & Western is in the process of relinquishing its rights to the line. This is a federal legal process that must be done with the oversight of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). As part of that process, “interested parties” (in this case the City of Tigard) have the opportunity to negotiate right-of-way agreements so the area can be used for public use.
The land under the rail line is owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Tigard City Council agenda item that deals with this issue says that in previous negotiations about a possible trail, ODOT’s Rail Division, “has opposed any trail use.”
According to the document, ODOT opposes the trail because they are, “adamant about preserving small, discontinuous pieces, like the Tigard loop, for future rail use.” The Council agenda summary goes on to say that although the south end of the loop is paved (it’s used for a TriMet park and ride lot) and doesn’t connect to the main line,
“ODOT Rail has maintained that the corridor could be used for rail use in the short term; such as for boxcar storage. Therefore, in the division’s view, even interim trail use could take away this potential.”
ODOT has also been concerned about safety because a small portion of the would-be trail location runs next to a separate, active rail line.
According to the City of Tigard, the negotiations with ODOT have “hit a deadend.” But now, with the process being turned over to the federal Surface Transportation Board, Tigard’s hopes of getting their rail-trail has new life.
If the Tigard City Council rules in favor of the trail, the STB would then give the City a “trail use authority.” The feds themselves would have no direct role in the Tigard/ODOT negotations, but according to the agenda item,
“negotiating with ODOT Rail under the auspices of the national rail administrative agency puts the City in a much more favorable position with regard to trail use than has been the case up to now…
STB’s favorable consideration of the City’s request could be a game-changer. For the first time, the City would have a real chance to exert some influence on state agency decision-making.”
For their part, City of Tigard staff recommends that their Council supports the trail by adopting a resolution next week that states that the trail will,
“… provide a broad range of community benefits, including: providing… a safe, off-street alternative to the adjacent Tigard Street;… giving the downtown an economic stimulus by providing a new off-street transportation route to downtown businesses of all kinds; and providing direct, non-motorized access to the bus and commuter rail transit station located in the center of the downtown area.”
Citizens can get involved and encourage Tigard City Council to pass the resolution by contacting Duane Roberts no later than June 10th.
More information on this is available on the Tigard Area 12 blog.
- Duane Roberts
(503) 718-2444
duane@tigard-or.gov.
Tigard City Hall
Attn: Duane Roberts
13125 SW Hall Boulevard
Tigard Oregon 97223.