WAITSBURG – At the regular Jan. 17 meeting, Waitsburg City Council members gave City Manager Randy Hinchliffe the go-ahead to explore development of a Park & Ride lot on the north end of town.

The Park & Ride would be located on the site of the old county shop, just west of the newly replaced Main Street Bridge. Hinchliffe explained that the city is limited on how that space can be utilized.

“After the 1996 flood, FEMA bought various parcels of land throughout the city and gave them to the city with the condition that they remain open so there is somewhere for water to disperse should water come over the top of the levy,” he said.

The idea of a Park & Ride has been on the city’s six-year-plan for approximately 10 years but hasn’t moved forward. Currently, Columbia County Public Transportation (CCPT) serves Waitsburg, making multiple stops around town. A centralized location would increase efficiency.

Hinchliffe said the site is well-suited because it is an open area with an existing concrete slab left over from the county shop. He told the council that Walla Walla Valley Transit is willing to give Waitsburg a bus shelter.

Hinchliffe said adding a bus shelter to the site would be allowable under FEMA guidelines because the sides don’t reach to the ground and it is not a permanent structure.

He said the cost to install the Park & Ride would be minimal, but there would be some ongoing maintenance, such as snow removal and regrading.

“All we would need to do is get some gravel, smooth it, clean the pad, set the shelter, put up signs and you’ve got a new Park & Ride lot. I talked with CCPT and they said if it’s there, they will use it,” Hinchliffe said.

Commercial Club President Joy Smith said there are often several cars belonging to people who use the Vanpool left parked in front of Main Street businesses all day. “If those people could be redirected to the Park & Ride lot that would be a really great thing,” she said.

“I can see us starting out small and if this becomes more used we can add concrete bumpers, a bike rack, and a designated entrance,” said council member Kevin House.

Waitsburg resident Jim Romine said it would also make a good parking spot for tour busses. “People from Walla Walla already rent a bus to come to the rib feed. Maybe this would encourage groups to get together and charter a bus for events like the Brewfest,” he said.

With the council’s agreement, Hinchliffe said he would be in contact with CCPT to determine how to best move forward with the project.