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Benton City Council authorizes staff to press negotiations for historic railroad bridge to complete regional trail link
Summary
Council directed staff to continue negotiations for acquiring a historic railroad bridge tied to a $2 million grant, finish a final biological assessment (approx. $10,000) and pursue reimbursement for $110,000 the city has fronted in project assessments; partners and volunteers signaled strong support for integrating the bridge into a regional trail network.
Benton City Council on April 1 heard a detailed briefing on plans to procure a historic railroad bridge and integrate it into a regional rails-to-trails network, and council members signaled support for staff to continue negotiations with Union Pacific and partner agencies.
The presenter said the city holds a $2 million grant for bridge acquisition awarded in 2023 and has completed structural, environmental and cultural-resource surveys plus preliminary NEPA/SEPA work. "The city has incurred approximately $110,000 for these assessments," the presenter said, adding that no HUD reimbursements for those costs have yet been requested. The presenter identified the remaining near-term tasks as a final biological assessment (about $10,000) and negotiating terms with Union Pacific.
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