6th Ave Project FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Actually, there’s a good chance it could end up costing the city more local dollars if the city chooses to destroy the trolley tracks:
1. Difficulty Getting State & Federal Funding: Destroying the trolley line, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will make it harder to secure state and federal funding for this project, lead to costly and time-consuming impact studies, and likely require money to be spent on mitigations.
2. Direct Removal Costs: There are costs associated with removing the trolley tracks, regardless of whether they’re rebuilt or not.
3. Potential for Historic Preservation Grants: If the trolley line is preserved, it would likely bring additional funds to the project, via large historic preservation grants that are available.
4. Additional Unanticipated Expenses: Removing the trolley tracks could lead to additional, unanticipated costs, such as removing tracks in Selah Gap and the City of Selah, relocating telecom lines from trolley poles, addressing environmental reviews and potential litigation, and possibly returning previously awarded trolley grants.
When thinking about the finances of a project like this, we have to consider not just the total cost, but also which types of funding will be available under different versions of the project.
Yes, absolutely! Phasing the project is one possible solution. By taking on a smaller portion of the project, the city can live within its current means, reduce financial risks, seek grant funds repeatedly for each phase of the project, and steadily make progress.
There are challenges, for sure. However, transportation projects like 6th Avenue are funded via a Transportation Benefit District (TBD). These are legally protected funds which cannot be used for other purposes. So the money that funds projects like this legally cannot be spent on other things like fire trucks, police officers, etc.
Yes, absolutely! The trolley line itself could be eligible for historic preservation grants (eg. Heritage Capital Projects, Save America’s Treasures, and many more from private foundations), clean energy grants (eg. CRP), and more. The nonprofit Yakima Valley Trolleys has assisted the City in preparing grant applications in the past and stands ready to do so again for this project.
The trolleys bring in two major kinds of income to Yakima:
1. Tourism – Every year thousands of visitors ride the trolleys. Approximately half of all our guests are from out of town. Many even travel long distances to Yakima specifically and solely because of the trolleys. For example, in 2023 we hosted two large international conferences in Yakima due to the trolleys. These visitors spend money on food, lodging, shopping, and other experiences when they come.
2. Grant Funding – Over the past three decades, the trolleys have brought at least $1.7 million in grant dollars to Yakima. This is grant money that gets spent on hiring local contractors and workers to make improvements to the trolley system, thereby also increasing the value of the City’s asset.
The entire trolley system, originally known as the Yakima Valley Transportation Company, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1992. This designation recognizes its historical significance and provides certain protections, particularly when federal or state funding is involved.
Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, any federally funded, licensed, or permitted projects that could impact the trolley system must undergo a review process to assess potential harm to its historic integrity. Similarly, Washington state law (RCW 27.34.220) requires consideration of historic properties when state funds are used for infrastructure projects. While listing on the National Register does not automatically prevent changes, these protections help ensure that adverse effects on the trolley system are reviewed and mitigated whenever possible and limit state or federal involvement in destructive projects.
In 2021 the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation suggested that the YVT railroad is “more than worthy of National Historic Landmark designation.” That same year, the Yakima City Council wrote a letter supporting the effort, and the nomination process was started.
The complete process to designate a site as a National Historic Landmark can take as much as five years. It involves rigorous historic research of primary source materials, academic quality writing, architectural analysis, and GIS mapping. The nomination process is still underway, but the National Park Service has said the YVT “appears to be a good candidate for possible NHL designation.”
Yakima’s trolley system is technically an interurban. Interurbans were electric railways that connected cities and towns, operating at higher speeds and over longer distances than typical streetcar systems. Unlike San Francisco’s cable cars or New Orleans’ streetcars, which primarily served dense urban areas, Yakima’s system was designed to link the city with surrounding communities like Selah, Wiley City, Ahtanum, etc.
What makes Yakima’s system even more unique is that it is the last remaining interurban (connecting Yakima and Selah), that remains intact, still running on its original tracks, using historic equipment from the early 20th century, and with complete shop and powerhouse facilities. While most interurbans disappeared by the mid-20th century, Yakima’s system has survived, offering a rare glimpse into a once-common mode of transportation that shaped regional development across America.
They did as recently as 2022! In 2023 an inspection of the Naches River trolley bridge discovered some minor maintenance needs. Fortunately, the City received a grant to cover the cost of these repairs, and they are expected to be completed in 2025.
The Selah Line is crucial to the trolleys for three reasons:
1. The people want it! – Every month we receive countless inquiries about trolley service to Selah. Tourists and locals alike want and expect the amazing experience of riding a trolley through the scenic Selah Gap!
2. National Historic Landmark eligibility – As mentioned above, the YVT is considered the best remaining example of an interurban railway, and for this reason is likely to be listed as a National Historic Landmark. If the line to Selah is lost, the YVT will no longer be an interurban and will not be eligible for NHL designation.
3. Finances – The trolley operation is financially sustainable when running to Selah, but not on Pine Street alone. We estimate that the combined impact of COVID-19 and temporary closure of the Selah Line has left a $200,000-sized hole in the trolley’s finances over the past few years.
When the trolley tracks are rebuilt as part of the 6th Avenue project, they’ll be designed to integrate smoothly with the roadway, minimizing any potential hazards for vehicles and cyclists. Modern track construction techniques can ensure a flush or nearly flush alignment with the pavement, reducing the risk of wheels getting caught.
Additionally, the trolley tracks in Yakima run down the center of 6th Avenue, unlike many other cities where tracks occupy lanes closer to the curb or shoulder. This central alignment provides ample space for vehicles to safely pass the trolleys on either side, while also maintaining sufficient distance between cyclists at the outer edges of the roadway. As a result, cars, cyclists, and trolleys can comfortably share the street without conflict.
No, the trolleys are operated by a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization. Our volunteers log thousands of hours every year in maintaining, improving, and operating the trolleys. The City covers some minor operating expenses such as the electricity to run the trolleys and utilities at the museum (because it is a City-owned property).
Preserving the Yakima Valley Trolleys, including the interurban trolley line to Selah, is about more than saving a piece of history; it’s an investment in Yakima’s future. The trolley line is nationally significant as America’s last intact interurban electric railway, positioning Yakima uniquely to attract tourism and economic activity. With designation as a National Historic Landmark, Yakima will see even greater visibility and visitor interest.
Beyond tourism, the trolley system generates substantial economic benefits by attracting millions in grant funding, which supports local jobs, contractors, and businesses. The trolleys enrich our community by providing family-friendly recreation, fostering pride, and inspiring thousands of volunteer hours each year. They also offer educational opportunities, giving residents and visitors an authentic, hands-on experience of our region’s heritage.
Choosing to preserve and enhance this historic resource ensures that future generations can continue to benefit culturally, economically, and socially from something truly unique to Yakima.
Grandchildren of today’s teenagers will still be enjoying the rebuilt trolley tracks! The lifetime of the rebuilt streetcar tracks will be multiple generations. It is a long-term asset for the future of Yakima. Meanwhile, the typical city street will require resurfacing and maintenance much sooner.
The tracks in 6th Avenue were last substantially rebuilt in 1956—almost 70 years ago. Using modern construction techniques when rebuilt today, the tracks will likely last even longer.