The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON/WAITSBURG — Early in May, local citizens and stakeholders attended a Blue Mountain Region Trails – Bridges, Towns and Rivers workshop in Dayton, to provide input into the prioritization of specific region-wide non-motorized trail connections, and criteria needs for sidewalks and bike routes.

Many were dismayed to see the longed-for bike route going from Dayton to Waitsburg absent from the newly created map, showing trail connections.

Port of Columbia Manager Jennie Dickinson explained that “spots” in the railroad right of way were still owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, and she said the Port would look into it.

Since that meeting, the Port has determined that ownership of the railroad and its right of way property is clear between Dayton and the Columbia County line to the west, Dickinson said in an e-mail on June 13.

“This is a very popular option, so we are glad to be able to clear up the ownership question,” she said.

Having a bike trail from Dayton to Waitsburg was one of the top three favored choices for those taking a Community Economic Development Steering Committee survey, at the end of 2015.