The Parkville Board of Aldermen reversed course last week on a long-awaited riverfront trail project.
At the Tuesday, March 3 meeting, the board on a split vote rescinded its Feb. 18 approval of an agreement with BNSF Railway for use of railroad easement along the Missouri River, which would allow for construction of a trail connection between English Landing Park and Riverside.
The decision was made when one of the stipulations of the agreement came to the attention of members of the board of aldermen. In the agreement, BNSF retained the right to revoke its permission to use its right of way at any time. Aldermen found this uncertainty of the future of the trail unacceptable and wished to go back into negotiations.
Negotiations regarding the connection trail between the Platte County trail along the Missouri River have been ongoing for several years. Portions of Parkville’s existing trail are within the BNSF easement and have been for decades, according to city staff. However, for continued use of the trail a license was needed from BNSF.
Last month, the board agreed to move forward with the agreement, but four aldermen were unsettled enough by the possibility that BNSF could renege on its deal to vote to rescind the approval. City staff were instructed to go back into negotiations with BNSF and its representatives.
Years ago, Platte County and Parkville began work to connect their trails and discovered the licensing problem. A license fee proposal sent from BNSF last year came in at more than $120,000, far more than the quote given to Platte County. Parkville officials renegotiated that licensing fee and were able to reduce it to the county rate, cutting the costs by more than half. The new license fee came back as $48,870.
However, BNSF requires the city install a new safety fence between the trail and the railroad tracks, which will cost an estimated additional $32,000.
Parkville’s Community Land and Recreation Board (CLARB) recommended the city purchase the fencing using funds from the half-cent parks sales tax approved by voters last year. The licensing fee would be paid through proceeds from the land transfer deal with Platte County in which the city took ownership of Platte Landing Park.
The board recommended CLARB reassess the agreement and its terms.
The board had also approved an agreement among the City of Riverside and Platte County for construction and maintenance of the Missouri Riverfront Trail. Maintenance includes Parkville parks staff maintaining the trail until the Parkville city limits, where Riverside will pick up maintenance. Platte County Parks and Recreation will construct the trail and own the portion of the trail outside of English Landing Park. All work is now on hold.