Per Whitman County Gazette 9/3/09 Palouse River and Coulee City Rail Authority (which oversees the PCC, W&I, & EWG operated trackage) is finalizing an application for a $60 million grant from Federal Stimulus monies to be used for track rehabilitation to get the tracks up to class 2 (25 m.p.h.) standards. The grant would equal just under $247,000 per mile. Grant would have to be used for "Shovel Ready" projects such as track and bridge repair, but could not be used to rebuild the burned bridge near Colfax or to reconstruct the line between Oakesdale and Thornton to reconnect the east and west systems.
IPUC TO HAVE HEARING FOR RAIL LINE ABANDONMENT:: Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct a telephone hearing at 9:00 a.m. Sept. 15, 2009 (1-208-334-0391) regarding Watco's (PCC RR) request to the STB to abandon a 3-mile section of track in Moscow, Idaho. According to an IPUC press release the railroad claims the line is in "poor condition" and it plans to remove the rail and all other track material. THE RAILROAD, ANY SHIPPER, LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND ANY OTHER PARTIES ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING BY CALLING 1-208-334-0391. Those of you on this list that have mentioned issues on this matter might be wise to participate. It is likely the only chance you will have. Daily News 9/3/09
LATAH COUNTY HAS recently accepted title to 8.4 miles of abandoned rail bed between Troy, Idaho and Kendrick, Idaho to add to the Latah trail. Trail is already in place between Moscow and Troy (12 miles) and between Kendrick and Juliaetta, Id (5.5 miles). (This trackage was part of NP/BN P&L Branch.) Daily News 9/1/09