From (AP) and (Western Ag Radio Network). Meetings taking place this week between local officials and WSDOT over changing control of the former PCC lines in Eastern Washington from State to local control. Washington lawmakers approved some $10 million dollars to go towards rehabilitation of the rail lines, but with-held $7 million of those dollars pending change over to local control of the lines. WSDOT would like to have local governments oversee the management and operation of the lines and is apparently using the withholding of rehabilitation funding as a way to speed the process up. Meetings earlier this week with the Port of Whitman County failed to resolve the local control issue, but state lawmakers present at the meeting said that they are comitted to saving the lines in order to perserve transportation diversity in Eastern Washington. Lawmakers want to keep from having one mode of transportation having a monopoly although realize that truck barge will probably remain the primary mode used by ag producers. They also feel that having multiple options will help keep shipping rates low. No timetable as to when or who might assume local control was given.
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