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Railroad seeks $700,000 State Infrastructure Bank loan to repair landslide undermining track
Summary
A representative of Cooper Valley Railroad described a landslide undermining track near a reservoir that forced the railroad to shorten or suspend parts of its service; staff said the railroad requests a $700,000 loan from the State Infrastructure Bank to repair the retaining wall, with a 15‑year repayment if legislature does not appropriate other funds.
A representative of the Cooper Valley Railroad told the UDOT planning workshop that a failing retaining wall and erosion between track and reservoir have forced the railroad to curtail service on part of its line and put key seasonal operations at risk.
“We couldn't take a chance to go over that particular section of railroad,” the railroad representative said, describing inspections that revealed significant erosion behind the wall and a landslide that undermined the trackbed. The erosion forced the railroad to stop running trains past the washout; the representative said that shortened the Christmas‑season operations and eliminated a two‑hour scenic trip segment.
UDOT staff reported the railroad has identified construction bids and believes $700,000 will fix the landslide. The proposed State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) request is for a 15‑year loan; staff said if the legislature does not appropriate money in the next session, the railroad would be responsible for repaying the loan under that term.
Commissioners and staff discussed the railroad’s financial position: the representative described ongoing loans and tight cash reserves, noting that most revenue has been reinvested into operations; staff said the State Infrastructure Bank currently has roughly $10.5 million of available balance and had made similar loans in prior years. Staff also noted that federal partners have been flexible in seeking solutions.
Why it matters: the landslide undermines a segment of track that supports the railroad’s seasonal and tourist services; without repair the railroad faces lost revenue and further service reductions. The request will come before the commission for consideration at its next meeting, with staff recommending commissioners ask clarifying questions about loan terms, project scope and contingency plans for repayment.
Next steps: UDOT staff will include the SIB loan item on the commission agenda; they said they can provide photos and more detailed cost breakdowns for the commission packet. The commission must weigh financial risk to the SIB fund, the railroad’s repayment plan and the public benefit of preserving the line.
Ending: The department emphasized flexibility from federal partners and said the SIB loan would be one instrument to keep operations running while longer‑term funding options are pursued.
