20041208Press Release.pdf

IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Case No. UPR-04-, Order No. 29571
December 7, 2004
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.state.id.
Commission won t file rail abandonment comments
Boise - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has determined that Union Pacific Railroad'
proposal to abandon a 5.25-mile stretch of railroad track in Kootenai County will not adversely
affect Idaho shippers. The commission will not file comments objecting to the abandonment with
the Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency that makes the final decision.
The commission conducted a public hearing on July 27 in Coeur d' Alene where no one testified
against the proposal. While the commission does not make rail abandonment decisions, its role is
to determine if the abandonment 1) adversely affects the area being served, 2) impairs the access
of Idaho shippers to vital goods and markets, and 3) whether the rail line has the potential for
profitability. If the commission had determined that the abandonment was not in the public
interest, it would have filed comments and represented the state before the Surface
Transportation Board (STB).
Union Pacific is seeking an exemption from the STB that speeds up the process. Exemptions are
granted when the railroad can prove there has not been rail traffic on the line for at least two
years and there are no outstanding complaints about lack of rail service. Union Pacific filed its
Notice of Exemption on Nov. 26. The STB will publish a notice in the Federal Register within
20 days. After 30 days from the publication of the notice, the railroad is permitted to abandon the
rail line unless STB stays the abandonment.
The line runs from east of Meyer Road to Ramsey Road, then south, crossing under Interstate 90
then east along the Spokane River about one mile, terminating a half mile west of U.S. Highway
95. The line was originally built in 1910 by the Spokane International Railroad Company.
The City of Coeur d' Alene and the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation will ask the Surface
Transportation Board to have this portion of the rail line
, "
banked " which preserves the right-of-
way in the event rail service is restored. The trail foundation will file a public use condition
requesting interim use of that stretch of the rail line for trail use.
The commission expressed its hope that Union Pacific will address concerns raised by the state
Department of Environmental Quality and noted that DEQ could file environmental comments
with the Surface Transportation Board as it deems necessary.
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