YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima City Council has voted to move forward with a plan that could keep the Yakima Valley Trolleys’ Selah route alive, but with a significant condition. The council approved the track renovations only if the trolley organization can secure funding independently, without using transportation district dollars.
The Yakima Valley Trolleys view this vote as a chance to preserve a piece of history. They emphasize the importance of maintaining their listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
“The trip across the Yakima Gap or the Selah gap is just beautiful,” said Pattie Graffe, a board member of Yakima Valley Trolleys. “It’s part of why people love Yakima. So to lose that would be really devastating.”
The Selah route has been out of service for over three years. Trolley leaders warn that losing this route could result in losing national recognition. They argue that restoring the connection could boost tourism, attracting more visitors to downtown and beyond.
“The people in the city love the trolleys,” Graffe said. “It’s been around for over 100 years. It’s, you know, generationally people enjoy the trolleys. So we love the trolleys. It’s a historical thing. It’s unique to Yakima Valley, It’s a tourism attraction.”
However, not everyone is in favor of the project. Some residents expressed concerns during public comment, arguing that the project is not a necessity and fearing it could lead to higher taxes.
“Please do not fund the trolley tracks,” one resident said. “I do not want to pay, and I am not in favor of paying any extra tax to fund a luxury kind of item.”
Ultimately, the council decided that renovations could proceed, but only if the trolley organization raises the money independently, without relying on transportation district funds. Supporters believe this condition still offers hope and prevents the Selah line from disappearing entirely.
“This just means we’re not going to use TBD funds to fund it,” said Matt Brown, Yakima Mayor.
The vote keeps the trolleys’ historic future on track. The major question now is whether the board can find the necessary funds to complete the renovations and restore the Selah route on its own.
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