More details have emerged regarding an effort by local partners to potentially purchase a section of rail currently owned by the city of Tacoma.
The line stretches from Chehalis to Maytown and is currently used almost exclusively for storage of rail cars.
The idea to purchase it emerged from conversations led by members of the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team. At first, some hoped that a coalition of city and county leaders could come up with a plan to buy it, with the potential for expansion of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum steam train rides.
For those who know the value of the steam train rides to our region, the idea was exciting. The train is one of the greatest tourism draws in Lewis County’s repertoire. Extending rides to Thurston County would undoubtedly increase its ability to bring tourists off interstate 5 and into our communities.
Though that remains a compelling thought, initial research by Renaissance member Larry McGee and others has found that such a use would not likely be financially beneficial.
Instead, leaders are bringing a different plan to meetings across the area in an effort to educate residents and government officials on what might end up being an unparalleled economic asset.
A proposed agreement — which has already been approved to by the city of Tacoma — dictates that Lewis County and Chehalis would have three years to pay $3 million for the 20-mile-long rail line.
McGee estimates that storage of rail cars alone would produce enough revenue to pay debt service on an initial $1 million payment. From there, the partners would seek grant funding to pay off the balance.
The payoff could be huge, depending on how the project evolves and the way it is managed. Rail car storage would provide revenue, but other possibilities — including transportation of goods — would likely be even more financially lucrative.
It appears the best outcome would be for municipal ownership of the rail and professional management of its operations by a private enterprise. Western Washington Railroad LLC currently operates the rail line under a short-term lease agreement. It’s possible that the company could remain in charge of operations should the rail line change hands.
We were encouraged most by a quote from Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes in The Chronicle’s front-page story detailing the potential purchase in Saturday’s edition.
“Locally, we need to take a look at this and see if it is something that would benefit the local area economically,” Dawes said. “And we are not talking local tax dollars. If a grant doesn’t come through, we won’t do it.”
That statement reflects the financially responsible leadership we’ve come to expect from the city of Chehalis. It also should act to put residents at ease as government officials continue researching this promising project and reporting back to their constituents.
