3653RESOLUTION NO.3653
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PORT OF MOSES LAKE'S PROPOSED RESTORATION AND
REOPENING OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN RAILROAD LINE THROUGH DOWNTOWN MOSES LAKE
RECITALS:
1. The Port of Moses Lake ("Port")is pursuing funding to support its Northern Columbia Basin Railroad
Project ("Project")to connect the Port to an industrial rail line.The Project involvesthree segments.
2. The Project includes building a new rail line through the Wheeler corridor (Segment 1).
3. The Project is estimated to cost about $29 million and the Port has secured $21 million from the state
legislature for the Project;attemptstosecure moremoneythrough federalgrants havebeen unsuccessful.
4. The Port has considered moving forward withthe Project and assuming any future financial risks inthe
event the additional funding for the Project is not secured.The Port has also considered not moving
forward with the Project,which could jeopardize future funding requests from the state.
5. As an alternative to a portion ofthe Project, the Port has considered the option of repairing the old railroad
line through downtown Moses Lake (Segment4)based upon the beliefthatthe $21 millioninstate funding
is sufficient to do the entire Project now with this alternative.The old rail line has not been active since
the1980's.
6. Given its proximity to the downtown shoreline,trails system,and business corridor,and the required street
crossings at Stratford,Highway 17,and Broadway,the restoration and reopening of the old railroad line
through downtown Moses Lake will have significant and irreparably negative impacts on the physical
environment,business community,economic development,trails and recreation system,tourism,and
visual landscape of the downtown community and shoreline.
7.While the Projectwill have some negative impacts on a few private property owners who may be subject
to eminent domain action,the alternative of reopening of the old railroad line through downtown Moses
Lake will severely impact the entire Moses Lake and Grant County communities,as well as numerous
individuals who have invested in the City as residents,business owners,visitors,and property owners.
8.Reopening the old railroad line through downtown Moses Lake is not in the best interests of the City of
Moses Lake or Grant County.
RESOLVED:
1.The City of Moses Lake City Council supports the Port's pursuit of developing Segment 1 of the Project.
The City Council further supports the Port's pursuit of additional funding to complete the Project as
originally planned.
2.The City Council vehemently opposes any decision to repair,restore,and/or reopen the old railroad line
through downtown Moses Lake.
3.The City Council pledges to support its opposition through any and all resources and means available to
the City.
Adopted by the City Council on December 13,2016.
Todd VotbfMayor