Outlook
FW: Sale of City-owned railroad ROW - Council 10/7 Item 2.7 File No. PP17-003 From City Clerk <[email protected]>
Date Wed 10/1/2025 1:10 PM
To Agendadesk <[email protected]>
From: Jordan Moldow
Sent: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 1:04 PM
To: Ice, Kevin <[email protected]>; Zenk, Jessica <[email protected]>; Smith, Ryan <[email protected]; Sewell, Liz <[email protected]>; City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Sale of City-owned railroad ROW - Council 10/7 Item 2.7 File No. PP17-003 [External Email. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources. Learn more] I'd like to suggest that DOT, PNRS, and City Council should adopt a policy around retention, maintenance, and usage (or qualifications for disposal) of former railroad rights-of-way. And that the City should hold off on entertaining these kinds of sales until such a policy is in place.
Some other reasons to consider holding onto this parcel instead of selling it:
• Even if this ROW isn't in the trails master plan, maybe it should be. It doesn't need to be high priority, but we could use more trails everywhere.
• Trails are a nice alternative to walking/biking alongside the street. The trail segment doesn't have to be long to be useful.
• Trails through industrial parks can be attractive to employees and employers, and can be a benefit to everyone in the area.
• Trails crossing roads at mid-block can be safer and more connected than trails crossing roads at four-way intersections. So we shouldn't reject this as a future trail because of the mid-block crossings.
• Even if we don't develop a trail, that strip of land can be used as a location for tree mitigation from industrial redevelopments in the immediate area. And in general can be useful as a permeable green surface in a pavement-heavy industrial area. • If UPPR ever abandons the adjacent Warm Springs line, it could make for an extensive trail. And the parcel being considered today could be used as a trailhead.
I also believe that the City shouldn't sell any land, it should charge rent, with options to cancel the lease if it gives a few years notice that it is planning a project that will use that parcel. I think this could be an appropriate compromise for the parcel being considered today.
Thanks,
Jordan Moldow (speaking on his own behalf)
District 3, Japantown
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