Rail corridor meet today

A meeting of the leadership team which was appointed to determine the fate of the now-idle Colfax to Pullman railroad connection has been scheduled for today, Thursday, at the Albion Community Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting follows a workshop session June 15 at the Community Congregational Church in Pullman which brought 130 people to learn about what options are available to the Washington State Department of Transportation, owners of the line which was previously operated for years by the Union Pacific. The rail has been out of use since a 2006 fire destroyed the railroad trestle west of Risbeck.

The corridor has been proposed for use as a trail between Colfax and Pullman with the railroad right-of-way possibly placed in a rail banking mode. Property owners along the trail have opposed this proposal.

Agenda items for the Thursday meeting include a report on the June 15 workshop, a report on a railroad speeder car trip taken by team members and reports on surveys of residents, trail neighbors and Chipman Trail users.

Scheduling of more public workshop sessions is also on the agenda. Colfax, Albion and Pullman are expected to be part of the public meeting process.

Bob Westby, manager of the DOT rail system, reported at the June session that the rails are expected to be pulled up from the track some time in the next year.

Area members of the leadership group are Commissioner Michael Largent, Mayor Todd Vanek and Karen Hinnenkamp.