Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009
City gets expert advice on train
Snohomish will spend $10,000 to understand its rights before allowing a tourist train into town.
SNOHOMISH — City officials need to know their rights.
That’s why they will spend as much as $10,000 to get a Dallas attorney’s expertise in federal railway law.
Ann Stanton, Snohomish’s parks and trails project manager, said a contract may be finalized later this week to hire Lonnie Blaydes, who has spent his 32-year career specializing in the complicated tangle that makes up federal railway law.
“He’s probably the premiere expert in the country on our type of questions,” Stanton said.
The city’s questions relate to a tourist train that could chug between downtown Snohomish and Woodinville if several hurdles are cleared.
Supporters of the train see it as a potential boon to the economy. Opponents fear it could lead to unwanted railway traffic in the quaint city.
Officials already know it’s within their authority to stop the train outside downtown or allow it northward through residential neighborhoods to the historic shopping district. Other points are less clear, however.
For instance, if the train comes into town, can the city regulate rail traffic? And does the city have a say in the reactivation of now-dormant rail lines that lie north of Snohomish?
Officials said answers may arrive in October. The $10,000 contract would pay Blaydes at a rate of $185 per hour. He also may visit Snohomish to review the situation.
“I’m a big believer in actually seeing things,” he said during a phone interview.
The City Council at its Sept. 1 meeting supported hiring Blaydes, with Councilman R.C. “Swede” Johnson the lone vote against. Johnson said he remains concerned the contract would not cover the cost of all the city’s questions.
“If you’re going to do it, let’s do it right,” Johnson said. “Let’s retain a qualified attorney that will provide direction and leadership.”
City administrators have said the contract will address the most pressing questions, giving the council enough information to decide if the train should be allowed into town. Advice beyond that point could cost more.
While the contract may be finalized later this week, the train’s arrival is less imminent.
The Port of Seattle needs to buy the tracks from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway before a tourist train run by GNP Railway of Tacoma can operate.
That purchase, now slated for December, has been delayed a few times, in part because of a poor bond market.
“We expect the purchase to go through,” city manager Larry Bauman said. “Every time we’ve talked to the Port (of Seattle), they’ve reiterated their commitment to this.”
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.
That’s why they will spend as much as $10,000 to get a Dallas attorney’s expertise in federal railway law.
Ann Stanton, Snohomish’s parks and trails project manager, said a contract may be finalized later this week to hire Lonnie Blaydes, who has spent his 32-year career specializing in the complicated tangle that makes up federal railway law.
“He’s probably the premiere expert in the country on our type of questions,” Stanton said.
The city’s questions relate to a tourist train that could chug between downtown Snohomish and Woodinville if several hurdles are cleared.
Supporters of the train see it as a potential boon to the economy. Opponents fear it could lead to unwanted railway traffic in the quaint city.
Officials already know it’s within their authority to stop the train outside downtown or allow it northward through residential neighborhoods to the historic shopping district. Other points are less clear, however.
For instance, if the train comes into town, can the city regulate rail traffic? And does the city have a say in the reactivation of now-dormant rail lines that lie north of Snohomish?
Officials said answers may arrive in October. The $10,000 contract would pay Blaydes at a rate of $185 per hour. He also may visit Snohomish to review the situation.
“I’m a big believer in actually seeing things,” he said during a phone interview.
The City Council at its Sept. 1 meeting supported hiring Blaydes, with Councilman R.C. “Swede” Johnson the lone vote against. Johnson said he remains concerned the contract would not cover the cost of all the city’s questions.
“If you’re going to do it, let’s do it right,” Johnson said. “Let’s retain a qualified attorney that will provide direction and leadership.”
City administrators have said the contract will address the most pressing questions, giving the council enough information to decide if the train should be allowed into town. Advice beyond that point could cost more.
While the contract may be finalized later this week, the train’s arrival is less imminent.
The Port of Seattle needs to buy the tracks from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway before a tourist train run by GNP Railway of Tacoma can operate.
That purchase, now slated for December, has been delayed a few times, in part because of a poor bond market.
“We expect the purchase to go through,” city manager Larry Bauman said. “Every time we’ve talked to the Port (of Seattle), they’ve reiterated their commitment to this.”
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.
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