January 14, 2013

The Yamhelas Westsider Trail committee is asking for your assistance. The Committee is raising money to purchase the Union Pacific Railroad abandoned railroad right of way (ROW). This ROW is approximately 17 miles long, from McMinnville (St. Joseph area) to the Hagg Lake turn off, just north of Gaston on Hwy 47.

Failure to acquire this railroad ROW will result in the break up and sale of the ROW in pieces which will virtually make it impossible to reassemble the corridor in one piece.

Our goals are simple:1) Acquire the Union Pacific Railroad ROW.2) Develop the ROW to include pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian amenities.3) Connect this trail to the Banks-Vernonia trail, the Tillamook trail and many other trails. 4) Possibly develop commuter and freight rail improvements in the long term.

The benefits include:1) Preservation of the corridor for future transportation needs. 2) Securing the rail corridor to one single public ownership. 3) Public ownership will facilitate permitting and enhance ability to apply for future grants to fund trail development.4) Preserve public wildlife and open space; provide economic stimulus to local economies.

A Transportation Enhancement grant application was submitted to Oregon Department of Transporta-tion for funds to purchase the Union Pacific Railroad ROW.

Please click on the link to take a very short survey in support of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail grant re-quest. http://tinyurl.com/YamhelasTrail

The deadline for providing comments is January 31st at 5:00pm._____________________________________________________________________

Media Questions should be directed to Kathie Oriet, Secretary, Yamhelas Westsider Trail 503-434-0325Do not publish Kathie Oriet’s phone number please!

http://YamhelasWestsiderTrail.org Facebook.com/YamhelasWestsiderTrail