UP begins process to abandon old line

Coeur d’Alene may be closer to having a bike and pedestrian path to link its northwest neighborhoods and schools to downtown and the Centennial Trail.

The Union Pacific Railroad is starting the process to abandon about 5.25 miles of track that city officials have been eyeing for a trail. The track runs north from Stimson’s DeArmond sawmill along Northwest Boulevard through Ramsey Park before veering across the Rathdrum Prairie toward Atlas and Heutter roads.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing July 27 in Coeur d’Alene to determine if the track abandonment would adversely affect the state or current rail service. However, the federal Surface Transportation Board will make the final decision on the abandonment.

The railroad hasn’t yet filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board to abandon the track, but IPUC officials said that’s the railroad’s intention.

Coeur d’Alene City Attorney Mike Gridley said the city will pitch the idea of turning the track into a bike and pedestrian path at the meeting. Gridley said he expects that the Kootenai County Commission also will support the idea. Recently, Gridley made a similar presentation to the county Planning Commission, which he said was receptive to the idea.

But a lot more planning is needed. The city wants to work with the Centennial Trail Foundation, Rails to Trails and other groups familiar with creating recreational paths.

In December, UP officials said they were aware of Coeur d’Alene’s desire to acquire some of the right-of-way.

Union Pacific once used the short spur tract, which was initially built in 1910 by the Spokane International Railroad Co. to haul lumber from the Stimson mill to the main line that crosses the prairie between Spokane and Sandpoint. It also serves a gas company.

The track is no longer used, except by the gas company, UP officials said.

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. has agreed to haul UP’s railcars between Spokane and downtown Coeur d’Alene.

The 1:30 p.m. July 27 meeting will be at the Kootenai County Administration Building, 451 Government Way. For more information, call the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in Boise at (208) 334-0339.