City engineering staff presented four conceptual options and order‑of‑magnitude costs on July 3 for a pedestrian connection that would link the West Main Street extension to the mill over railroad tracks and help connect downtown to planned trails and the mill redevelopment.

Project consultant concepts returned price estimates ranging from about $1.5 million for an at‑grade railroad crossing to roughly $3.1 million for the most extensive ramping option on the south side. Staff said a ramp beginning on Railroad Street, rising along the side of the Legacy Sports building and crossing above the building into the mill parking deck was the least intrusive to adjacent properties and “the most attractive” option among the concepts, with a midrange estimate of approximately $2.37 million (including a conceptual contingency).

Miss Watson (city engineering staff) and design consultant PDP presented four concepts: (1) a south‑side ramp and approach (~$3.1M); (2) a Railroad Street ramp that passes above Legacy Sports (~$2.4M); (3) stairs with elevator access (~$2.2M); and (4) an at‑grade pedestrian crossing (~$1.5M). All cost estimates at concept level included a 30% contingency to reflect early‑stage uncertainty, Watson said, and budgets also included a notional $400,000 allowance for undergrounding utilities.

Staff highlighted several constraints and considerations: the railroad requires minimum clearance for a bridge (staff cited a 26‑foot clearance requirement), the mill site includes a required public landing within a nearby parking deck, and an at‑grade crossing would require additional ADA work and coordination on railroad crossing panels and signals. Watson said the railroad had been engaged in early conversations and that grant opportunities—particularly safety‑focused federal transportation grants—could help fund the work.

Councilors questioned long‑term maintenance and usage patterns, the number of daily train movements (staff said the railroad reported two train movements per day, but acknowledged trains can block crossings for longer intervals) and whether the deck and landing designs would preserve access for both downtown pedestrians and mill users. Watson said the recommended Railroad Street ramp concept would impose the least impact on adjacent property owners and would offer broader reuse (kiosk, hotel or other screens) if the city builds out a downtown map/directory software.

No funding vote or design approval took place at the meeting; staff said the concepts return as options for council’s further direction as engineering and grant work proceeds.