Benton City Council authorizes staff to press negotiations for historic railroad bridge to complete regional trail link

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.

Why it matters: Council members and regional partners described the bridge as the missing link in a planned trail network connecting Benton City to Red Mountain and neighboring jurisdictions, potentially drawing hikers and cyclists and linking to larger corridors under development through 2030.

Friends of Badger Mountain and other local trail groups provided letters of support and representatives attended the meeting. Dave, a Friends of Badger Mountain board member, described volunteers\' decade-long work and told the council the groups are prepared to help connect the bridge to broader trail segments. Diane Lee, speaking from a historical perspective, urged preservation and interpretation of the structure if acquired, calling it "one of the most historical things in Benton City."

Council and staff discussed practical concerns. Presentations reviewed deterrent design options from other regional bridges (higher railings, fencing and signage) to address safety and liability risks, and staff mapped two trail alignment concepts to keep users away from a private residence located immediately off the far end of the bridge. Land-acquisition or easement options were described as possible approaches to avoid routing users past the house.

The presenter recommended continuing negotiations with Union Pacific, completing the biological assessment, processing reimbursements for the assessment costs the city has fronted, and advancing design and safety-securement planning after procurement. The transcript records the presenter\'s statement that they "have gained a lot of traction" with partners and that council had indicated approval to move forward with those next steps; the briefing did not record a formal roll-call vote to acquire the bridge.

The council did not record a formal adoption of a procurement motion during the meeting, but directed staff to return with firm cost estimates and budget implications after further negotiations and assessment completion. Staff said they will pursue reimbursements from granting agencies where eligible and then present budget numbers to the council for review.

Next steps: staff will complete the final biological assessment, continue negotiations with Union Pacific, pursue reimbursement for prior assessment costs, and return to council with procurement numbers and recommended design/mitigation measures for safety and access.