Colfax-Pullman-Wilson: FCC railroad strategy plan could lead to pulling tracks

A draft plan which could lead to removal of railroad lines between Colfax and the Washington-Idaho state line will be issued next month, according to a report at a state rail review hearing last Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Clarkston. The hearing was one of three on this side of the state to get residents’ comments for an overall strategic plan for the state-owned PCC rail system which serves this area.

Washington State Department Of Ttransportation (WSDOT) officials reported one of the items in a draft report, which will be issued Jan. 9, will be to conduct meetings with Colfax and Pullman officials to determine whether on not any future use of the railroad link is anticipated. If there isn’t, the state will advance a plan to remove the rails and rail bank the right-of-ways, according to Bob Westby, director of the rail office at the WSDOT eastern region office in Spokane.

The strategic rail plan will be issued in draft form for public review and possible amendments before final approval.

The Dec. 9 session in Clarkston was the third of three public sessions to get public comment. Others were conducted in Spokane and Ephrata.

The rail removal would include the rail line between Colfax and Pullman which was severed when a trestle was destroyed by the 2006 fire along the South Fork of the Palouse River. Also on the draft proposal will be possible removal on the rail link between Pullman and the state line at Wilson siding. Westby pointed out the railroad no longer has any customers on that part of the rail system.

The link to Wilson was one of two rail routes from Pullman to Moscow. One of those was converted to the Bill Chipman Trail.

Westby said the state can save money by using the rails from the lines here elsewhere and banking the right-of-ways. He added rail banking doesn’t mean the state intends to develop a trail along right-of-ways.

Trail proponents have urged conversion of the Colfax-Pullman line, the former Union Pacific line, to a trail which would link Colfax with Pullman, Chipman, and Latah trails.

The segment of unused rail in Colfax has been considered by city officials as a possible alternate route for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The segment of unused line extends from S. Main along the west side of the South Palouse river channel to the downtown area. First access to downtown would be via the Wall Street bridge.

The South Main railroad crossing was removed three years ago as part of the Highway 195 rebuilding project which ended at Cooper Street. The unused rail east of S. Main crosses East Cooper and Lower A streets and continues west to the burned out trestle about three miles east of Colfax.