Jennifer Gindt, Chair, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee*

Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager

Bill Preston, City Engineer

On October 4, 2022, the Council heard a presentation regarding a proposed pedestrian crossing over the Yakima Trolley Bridge. Representatives from the William O. Douglas Trail Foundation (WODTF) and the Yakima Valley Trolley Association (YVT) presented their respective views on the proposal. After discussion, Council moved to table the discussion until the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) finished reviewing the proposal and made a recommendation back to Council.

The BPAC discussed the proposal at their February 8, 2023 meeting, where a motion to recommend moving forward with the pedestrian crossing passed by a 6-1 vote. 

City Council Options:

1. If the City Council wishes to move forward to the project stage with regards to use of the trolley bridge for pedestrian crossing, a motion to direct staff to work with the William O. Douglas Trail Foundation, Yakima Valley Trolleys, Greenway, BNSF, and the City of Selah to create a project and all the necessary components and move forward with environmental review, shoreline review, and engineering project permitting.
2. If the City Council wishes to see additional options, a motion to direct staff to evaluate additional options for connecting the William O. Douglas Trail over the Naches River, other than use of the trolley bridge.
3. If the City Council wishes to do nothing and keep the trolley bridge for trolley purposes only the Council need not take any action.

It should be noted that moving forward to the project stage does not mean that the project permits will be automatically approved or that BNSF will approve the project within its right-of-way.