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Council approves BNSF deal

By John Larson

Tacoma Weekly
jlarson@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: June 26, 2008

Tacoma City Council approved a complicated transaction with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) that could result in a pedestrian trail running through the heart of downtown during its June 24 meeting. Two members voted against it, and several who voted in favor did so reluctantly.

The city will acquire a 20-foot-wide section of right-of-way on BNSF’s old Prairie Line, an abandoned rail line that runs through the middle of the University of Washington-Tacoma campus. In return, the council committed to closing ‘A’ Street where it crosses the railroad’s line at Dock Street.

The deal ties in with BNSF’s planned sale of the old maintenance shops property in South Tacoma to ProLogis, a Denver company that wants to build a warehouse complex on the 157-acre parcel.

Councilmember Connie Ladenburg voted for the resolution because it helps meet two goals – a system of pedestrian trails that will cross the city and the economic development potential of the ProLogis project.

Councilmember Julie Anderson expressed some reservations, but said she would vote yes, because of the number of jobs that would be created.

Ryan Petty, director of the city’s Community and Economic Development Department, discussed negotiations between city staff and BNSF.

Councilmember Jake Fey voted against the resolution. He said he first received a memo on this in December, but did not fully realize the connection between the three issues. He would have called for an executive session if he had, he told Petty. “We have executive sessions on much less significant topics than this.”

The closure of ‘A’ Street should occur within 90 days. But it could take the city years to develop a trail along the Prairie Line.

“We get a hope, a wish and a trail,” Fey remarked. “I am not convinced we struck the right deal.”

Councilmember Mike Lonergan cast the other dissenting vote. He inquired about the possibility the federal Surface Transportation Board could require BNSF to sell the entire right-of-way, which is about 80 feet wide. The railroad would have to seek the board’s approval to do so.

City Manager Eric Anderson told him the only way that process could start would be for the council to first approve the resolution.

City Attorney Elizabeth Pauli said she did not agree with Lonergan’s opinion that the council should wait for more information before voting on the resolution.

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