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Welcome and Mission |
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Welcome and thank you for your interest in how to save our rail corridor. The mission of the Ferry County Rail Trail Partners is to preserve the rail corridor for the long term economic benefit of Ferry County and create a non motorized trail.
The 28-mile corridor (from the old San Poil mill site north to the Canadian border) has been essential infrastructure in Ferry County for over one hundred years, and with your help, will remain so. While trains no longer run, and the rails will soon be removed, through rail banking they can return. Meanwhile, the corridor can be used to install utilities, for instance: high speed internet, a sewer system in Curlew or at Curlew Lake, and a non-motorized trail we can all enjoy. We need your help to support the Ferry County Commissioners efforts to save our rail corridor. |
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Local residents asked the questions, and the Ferry County Rail Trail Partners have attempted to provide the most accurate answers possible. Click HERE |
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Economic Benefits of Hiking. Washington Trails Association reports hiking is good for economy. Click HERE |
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Read a report that illustrates why rail trails should be non-motorized. Click HERE |
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Check out the many other successful rail trails in Washington. Click HERE |
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Railbanking Info: |
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Rail banking is a federal law administered by the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This law allows public agencies to acquire the railroad right-of-way from an operating railroad and “bank” it until future rail use is applied for at the STB. The purchasing agency has all the property rights held by the railroad including easements for railroad use. The rail line is not officially “abandoned” by the railroad.
In 2006, the Ferry County Commissioners made a formal request to the STB to rail bank this line. The STB and Kettle Falls International Railway (KFIR), agreed to this request. The County can now negotiate with KFIR to purchase the rail corridor. Click HERE to find out how this applies to Ferry County. |
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| Non-Motorized Info: | ||||
A non-motorized trail is quiet, safe, and far less costly to maintain, and is ultimately more attractive to a broader spectrum of users. From a child pedaling to school, to a retired couple on horseback, the list of potential non-motorized trail users is long and diverse and without question, far more suited to any trail in such close proximity to homes.
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 Report rail trail corridor abuse Click HERE |
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| Photo Gallery | ||||
| A growing collection of photos of the rail corridor and multiple uses. Click HERE | ||||
Answers to Common Questions Regarding Railroad Abandonment:
