Yamhelas Westsider Trail

Yamhill County has been actively working with citizens, local businesses, partner agencies including the cities of Carlton, Yamhill, McMinnville, and Gaston, Washington County, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and the National Parks Service, and the Friends of Yamhelas Westsider Trail, on the proposed acquisition of approximately 9 miles of the abandoned portions of the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Hagg Lake to OR 99W, near McMinnville. The 17-mile-long former railway corridor (both the abandoned portions and the portions still in use by UPRR) is located in the heart of scenic Oregon Wine Country and provides linkages between four cities and two counties. The acquisition would preserve abandoned portions of the railway in one single public ownership and address multiple transportation needs, including pedestrian and bicycling while, providing the opportunity to purchase the active portions still in use by UPRR at a future date.

 

The project is identified in the 2009 Carlton Transportation System Plan (TSP) as a priority pedestrian and bicycle improvement project. The path will provide a safe off-street facility for commuters, school trips, recreational use and other local trips in Carlton and Yamhill. Yamhill County adopted an amendment to add the Yamhelas Westsider Trail to the Yamhill County TSP in December 2012. The original TSP, adopted in 1996, includes a policy objective of pursuing the conversion of abandoned rail lines to trails that connect with the County's trail/bikeway system. Yamhill County's TSP update, adopted in 2015, specifically includes the Yamhelas Westsider Trail. The project is also consistent with policy objectives provided in the 2003 Yamhill County Parks and Open Space Master Plan, as well as the 2009 Yamhill County Agri-Business Economic and Community Development Plan, which indicates the need for transportation infrastructure and amenities, such as trails, to further support agri-tourism economic development efforts. The project is primarily in Yamhill County; however, a future portion of the abandoned corridor north of Gaston is in Washington County, and Washington County has identified this proposed project in the Washington County TSP.

Carlton Easement 1

Carlton Easement 2

Carlton Easement 3 
Carlton Easement 4
Travel Oregon Competitive Medium Grant Application