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General : Rails to Trails
BNSF and the Prairie Line Trail
Yesterday, the Council’s Economic Development Committee heard from BNSF on two projects. One was the proposed Prairie Line Trail that traverses downtown. Negotiations between BNSF and the City have produced a “win-win” situation.
The proposed terms include:
- BNSF will convey to the City, at no charge, a (generally) 20ft wide strip of property approximately between S. 15th and S. 27th
- BNSF will also convey a strip of land to connect the trail to the City’s Public Works Storage lot between S. 23rd and S. 25th
- The City will permanently close the crossing of BNSF’s right of way on A St. at Dock St
- The A St. closure will not happen until the D St. overpass has been finished and operating for 90 days. It will then be closed with temporary barriers until the trail project has reached the point of necessary permanent closure
- BNSF will authorize the expansion of the 15th St. bridge and provide an air space easement for a future pedestrian overpass between A and D Streets
- BNSF and the City will explore options for future streetscaping or parks near 17th St. and Hood St.
- BNSF, the City and WSDOT will have discussions about possible slip ramps for SR 509 in the vicinity of D St.
A completed Prairie Line Trail would traverse downtown and UWT… What do you think?
Link | Posted on 14. May 2008, 11:14
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Who will be brave enough to walk this trail? Local cops call this area “the jungle.”
1 | Posted by billb | May 14, 11:27 AM
The City will permanently close the crossing of BNSF’s right of way on A St. at Dock St
Good riddance – this crossing is oftentimes underwater and really fairly treacherous as you have to go on the tracks to get to the intersection and sit.
2 | Posted by beerBoy | May 14, 12:27 PM
True, it might be “The Jungle” right now but add a nice wide paved trail, a few benches and some lights and an ugly area can become something quite useful and very much welcome to those in that area.
I recommend reading The Campus the Almost Wasn’t for similar thoughts about the UW Tacoma back when it was still on the drawing boards.
3 | Posted by Brooks | May 14, 12:39 PM
Sounds promising to me. Could be the start of a new, much improved downtown to Old Town bike/pedestrian path on or near the waterfront.
4 | Posted by michael g. | May 14, 12:49 PM
I am against the closure of any street onto Thea Foss. With all the housing that will be there it is rediculous. Also it closes an entrance into the Dome District. Turn the situation around, would BSNF close that crossing and stop all the diesil smelling trains so our downtown envionment would be much healthier.
5 | Posted by Keith Stone | May 14, 04:41 PM
Since the D Street overpass will connect the Dome District and Dock Street, I’m all for closing the A Street crossing. It is often blocked (for very lengthy periods) by idle trains anyway.
6 | Posted by Foss resident | May 14, 07:57 PM
Ooh wee,
Dereck ya’ll missed it tonight at the NTNC. Some guy whipped out a white board marker and laid it down. Tell em Jake.
7 | Posted by Old Timer | May 14, 09:34 PM
Yeah it was the most excitement I have seen at an NTNC meeting. Jim Merrit brought up some great points (including “if we need to stay until midnight we will”!). It is really something we need to look into more.
1. BNSF is going to give the city 20’ of the 80’ right of way they own. As land values go up BNSF will probably sell the rest of the ROW to the adjacent land owners. The land owners can then redevelop their properties using that ROW land. This could create a “cannon” for the new trail if the property owners redevelop and new buildings are built to the new property lines. Think dark alley. Might not appeal to people wanting to use the trail. The city should go for the whole 80’ ROW.
If BNSF really wants the “A” Street crossing at Dock Street closed then giving up an unused piece of land shouldn’t be a problem.
2. The city currently has no plan for trail maintenance.
3. The city has not planned on what to do with the A Street ROW except to put a chain link fence at Dock Street. Can it still be left open for a pedestrian access? Skate Park? Who knows? I know when I had an interested investor in the Foremost Dairy property one of the key features to the property was the easy access to the waterfront from “A” Street. Will closing “A” Street hurt the South Downtown area that is prime for redevelopment?
“A” Street is almost direct access from Pacific Ave. and the closure will have more direct impact on the South Downtown/Pacific Ave. corridor than the Dome District with the new “D” Street overpass.
8 | Posted by Jake | May 15, 12:51 AM
I greatly enjoy these discussions and learn much from them. Today’s thread raises the question, have you explored adding maps or aerial photos to the original postings to supplement the written narrative? A Google Earth map or photo with locations marked would help a lot as I learn my way around town.
9 | Posted by Steve Wells | May 15, 01:20 PM
I remember the good old days when students at UWT had to dodge the trains that occasionally roared down the track. Since BNSF stopped using that line, it has taken on a forlorn look more fitting of Detroit than Tacoma. I welcome any improvements to create a new trail downtown. I agree, however, that it must be done right. There could be lots of problems such as street crossings that are not being considered. Potentially a huge safety hazard.
10 | Posted by drizell | May 15, 08:57 PM
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