YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima City Council held a meeting that included significant decisions about the future of the Yakima Valley Trolleys. The council focused on repairing the Naches River Bridge and drafting a new five-year operations agreement.
During the meeting, differing public opinions were voiced regarding the trolley’s value. One attendee expressed, “I feel like it’s a good historical educational place for children and families to go to.” Another stated, “It’s not a matter of do I like trolleys or don’t I like trolleys, but in what ways are we going to spend our communities’ funds and monies?”
Ken Johnsen, the president of the trolley organization, and part of them for 52 years, emphasized the importance of the bridge repair.
“For the last three years, we haven’t been able to go to Selah. Selah is by far the most popular route. Everybody, every week we get people writing to us saying, ‘when are you going to Selah?'” he said.
Bill Preston, City Community Development Director, noted the effect COVID and the inability to travel to Selah has had.
“Because of COVID and because of the inability to get to Selah, they estimate roughly $200,000 in lost income over that time period” he said.
The council narrowly approved the bridge repair resolution with a 4-3 vote, allocating $375,000 for the project.
Attention then shifted to the operations agreement, which is set to expire at the end of the year. Preston highlighted the urgent timeline for presenting the new agreement.
“If I don’t bring it on December 9th, then there will be a lapse in coverage or a lapse in service until I bring a new one to you,” he said.
Preston also mentioned the city’s current financial responsibilities concerning the trolleys.
“They had said that they would cover the rest of the operating costs, including the $5,000 a year insurance. So, if I move forward with an agreement that needs to be now added into the agreement,” he said.
Johnsen shared that the trolleys are close to being recognized as a historical landmark site, which could open doors for future grants.
“This is going to be a big thing for Yakima. It’ll help the tourism industry. It will help put Yakima on the map as a place that appreciates historic preservation. And it will be the last intact example of an inner urban railroad,” he said.
The council concluded with a 5-2 vote in favor of having Preston prepare a new operating agreement. Preston is expected to present this to the council on December 9th for a vote to approve the agreement through 2030.
With the bridge repairs approved, Johnsen says that the hope is to get the Trolleys up and running to Selah by summer of 2026. He notes that with an impending project on 6th Avenue in 2027, that would cause the Trolleys to temporarily stop Selah trips until the project is completed.
