Moses Lake sending letter for rail funding

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council approved sending letters to lawmakers asking them to appropriate funds in 2011 to purchase a segment of the Columbia Basin Railroad line.

The portion is slated to be vacated once a new spur from the Grant County International Airport would be built.

The letters will be sent to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Congressman Doc Hastings, R-Moses Lake.

The rail company eventually plans to build another rail line detouring out of the city between Wheeler and Parker Horn, to be used by the Port of Moses Lake, Grant County International Airport and other industrial needs, said Pat Boss, on behalf of the rail company.

Once the rail line is complete, the line running from Parker Horn through Neppel Park in the city will no longer be needed due to the detour.

Councilmember Bill Ecret explained the city wants to eventually purchase the segment of the rail project that will no longer be used so it can be removed to gain access to waterfront for both possible private and public development and to expand the city’s trails and paths.

The rail company and the city discussed working together to complete the project during the last council meeting.

The city must request the federal funds and other funds available to purchase the segment of the rail line running through the city because they have no funding for the purchase.

If the city is able to obtain funding for the purchase, the rail company would use the money for the purchase and construction of the detour, Boss explained. The rail company would continue to use the line running through the city until there is enough funding to build the detour.

During the meeting, there was discussion pertaining to the need to build the detour as soon as possible. If a business locates in Moses Lake needing rail, requiring the current rail line to be updated, there is a slim chance the detour would be built and the line running through the city being sold due to the money used for a rail upgrade.

The plan would require a working relationship between the city, rail company and the Port of Moses Lake.