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Bailey Branch

Bailey Branch objections answered

Written July 10th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

Some Benton County farmers and others have all kinds of reasons to oppose turning the old Bailey Branch rail line into a trail for hikers and bicycle riders, but the objections raised at a hearing Thursday all have answers.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Bailey Branch, Benton County

On Benton’s Bailey Branch: Looking to the future

Written June 25th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

Whether the old rail corridor known as the Bailey Branch can ever again serve the cause of transportation, I don’t know. But clearly some segments, especially the one from Alpine Junction to Dawson in the foothills of the Coast Range, have huge potential as a recreational trail. That’s my impression from joining a smattering of other […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Alpine Junction, Bailey Branch, Benton County Oregon, Dawson, Monroe, Southern Pacific

How to use Benton’s Bailey Line

Written July 1st, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

Benton County says most of the suggestions it has received so far about what to do with the old Bailey Branch railroad line can be arranged into five options. To my mind, the only ones that don’t make sense are to break up and sell off segments or to do nothing with the corridor until […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Bailey Line, Benton County, Dawson, Monroe

Pedaling the rails: Can’t do it here

Written July 5th, 2016 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

Ever wonder about finding new uses for railroad tracks that are no longer needed? Not short little spurs in industrial zones like the one in the photo, but longer ones on scenic routes?

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: abandoned rails, Bailey Branch, Joseph Branch Railriders, Oregon Coast Railriders, Railriders, railroad tracks

Better rail when? Nobody knows

Written January 13th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

As for catching a ride on a high-speed or even moderately fast passenger train up the Willamette Valley any time soon, don’t get your hopes up. There is no estimate for when such a service might start, says Jim Cox of the Oregon Department of Transportation. He and Benton County Commissioner Linda Modrell spoke about […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Corvallis City Club, Jim Cox, Linda Modrell, ODOT, Oregon passenger rail

Left in the dust: old Thurston Canal

Written May 11th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 6 responses.

Hardly any water flows in the little ditch known as the Thurston Street Canal or “Thurston Creek” in the best of times. On Sunday I was surprised to see that one section had gone completely dry.

Posted in: Bicycling, Commentary, News
Tags: Albany canals, CARA, Thurston Creek, Thurston ditch, Thurston Street Canal

Council faces decision on old church

Written February 7th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

It’s a good thing Albany did not buy the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 401 Main Street as an investment. The city purchased the property for $150,000 in 2000 for a street project, declared it surplus last year, and now may give it away to be restored as a faith-based counseling center.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Good Samaritan Ministries