Or building it from scratch.
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Posts have been set in concrete just
behind the paved trail edge.
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Rails and trails are able to co-exist, but authorities do need to take measures to protect the trains from people (and pets) who try to wander off the path. Protect the trains? Yes, trains and engines generally do an outstanding job of staying on their tracks. It’s the people and pets that don’t stay on their “track.”
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The fence is actually adding a
finished look to the trail, and looks great in the presence of a Northern Pacific Railway switch stand.
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A trail fencing plan was included in the City of Snoqualmie’s 2013 downtown revitalization phase two, but unfortunately there were issues that prevented its full implementation. Contract disputes, bad weather, and cost overruns all conspired to cancel a portion of the project. So while a barrier was constructed in front of the Snoqualmie Depot and across from downtown businesses, it was not built along the trail from King Street to Northern Street.
In 2017 the Museum, City of Snoqualmie, and Washington State’s Utilities and Transportation Commission discussed options for adding a barrier between the tracks and the trail in the remaining “barrier free” zone. Prefabricated metal fencing set at 42 inches was the option closest to consensus, and it was the design option that looked the best, too.
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| The fencing is now complete making Snoqualmie safer for trains, people & pets. |
Funding 1,600 feet of fencing can be challenging, but the project was and is safety related. Thanks to the support of Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, Snoqualmie City Council and the Snoqualmie Public Works and Administration, the project remained a priority and was successfully funded. A contract was let earlier this summer and the work was completed this week.
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| Pro tip: don’t try to walk this fence line. Or sit on it, either! |
Excursion trains now operate with a greatly reduced potential for people or pets running into them, making Snoqualmie safer for trains, people and pets. Check it out for yourself: trains operate weekends through the end of October, and for Santa Train.
