Fwd: πŸš‹ Tonight Matters: Help Keep the Trolley Tracks in Scope

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Eric Eskilson

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Feb 17, 2026, 2:05:39β€―PMΒ (6 days ago)Β Feb 17
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This is a big night for the Trolleys that Stephen has been telling us about!
I'm hoping that some of you can make it to the meeting in Yakima tonight. (I can't make the meeting but did send an email to the board.)
Thanks for your support!
EricΒ 
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Yakima Valley Trolleys <ma...@yakimavalleytrolleys.org>
Date: Tue, Feb 17, 2026 at 7:06β€―AM
Subject: πŸš‹ Tonight Matters: Help Keep the Trolley Tracks in Scope
To: <ESKILSONE...@gmail.com>


Public voices in January helped reopen the trolleys. Now let's save the Selah Line!
͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β    ͏ β€Œ Β   ­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­

We want you all aboard! πŸš‹ Update your preferences here to choose the messages you'd like to receive.

Save the trolley line to Selah! πŸŽπŸš‹

Friends and supporters: Tonight’s Yakima City Council meeting is an important moment for the future of Yakima's trolleys and the Selah line. If you’ve been lingering on the sidelines, please make this the moment you get involved. The public’s voices in January helped secure a new trolley operating agreement and now an even bigger turnout is needed to keep the Selah line alive.


❓ What’s happening?

City Council is considering whether to remove the trolley tracks from the scope of the 6th Avenue rebuild project.

- About $8M without trolley infrastructure

- About $15M with tracks and overhead wire included

Once removed, the connection to Selah and the interurban character that makes our system unique could be lost for good.


πŸ’¬ What are we asking for?

We are not asking the City for a blank check. We’re simply asking Council to leave the tracks in scope for now and allow time to pursue grants, partnerships, and private fundraising.

There are many outside funding opportunities that have not yet been fully explored. Preserving the Selah line strengthens Yakima’s tourism economy and our National Historic Landmark potential.


🌎 Why it matters

Visitors ask about the Selah route constantly. It’s one of our valley’s strongest tourism assets! Keeping the interurban connection intact is key to economic development and national recognition.

Even the base $8M road project is quite significant for this quiet stretch of road, and many believe higher-priority needs exist elsewhere across the city.


πŸ™Œ How you can help (in order of impact)

1️⃣ Speak at Council tonight

πŸ“ Yakima City Hall

πŸ•” Arrive around 5:00 PM

πŸ•  Meeting starts at 5:30 PM

Submit a speaker slip for Agenda Item 8A.

πŸ“… Click here to add it to your calendar to remember


2️⃣ Show up and wear a trolley sticker

Even sitting in the audience sends a strong message of community support!


πŸ“… Click here to add it to your calendar to remember


3️⃣ Join via Zoom

Click here to submit your request to comment before 3 PM Pacific today


4️⃣ Email Council

If you can’t attend, click here or send a message directly to ccou...@yakimawa.gov


Yakima Valley Trolleys recognizes the fiscal challenges facing the City. Our suggestion is simple: allow time to bring outside funding to the table and keep this historic interurban connection alive.


If you care about Yakima’s history, tourism future, and the Selah line, tonight is the time to show it!

Β 
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Tim Economu

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Feb 18, 2026, 1:15:36β€―PMΒ (5 days ago)Β Feb 18
to SEVA Email List
THanks Eric, sent email!
Tim

jame...@whidbey.com

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Feb 18, 2026, 1:46:03β€―PMΒ (5 days ago)Β Feb 18
to SEVA...@googlegroups.com

I did too!

I see no downside to theΒ Yakima Valley Trolley's request to allow time to bring in outside funding to keep the trolly's historic interurban connection alive and running. The trolly system is a living example that is more about looking ahead without blinkers than looking into the past or especially looking straight down at the present, thinking the present will never change. The trolly IS a reasonable persisting model for alleviating reliance on individual vehicles for fundamental local travel.


TE:Β THanks Eric, sent email!


Tim Economu

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Feb 21, 2026, 2:56:13β€―PMΒ (2 days ago)Β Feb 21
to SEVA Email List
Any idea how this panned out, did we buy some time?
t

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 11:05:39β€―AM UTC-8 Eskilsonengineering wrote:

SevaS...@hpev.com

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3:17β€―AMΒ (1 hour ago)Β 3:17β€―AM
to SEVA...@googlegroups.com
Hi all,

Yes, they bought some extra time for the YVT to find funding (about 12-15 months max) by supposedly leaving it listed as an option in the scope(?) but sadly on Feb 17, The Yakima City Council voted 5-2 to not allow any of the city TBD (Transportation Benefit District) funds to be used for trolley tracks on 6th avenue (or for any street repairs in the future!)

The council did say they would leave the option open for it so that grants could be sought and applied to it so that if the YVT can find funding, then the tracks could be added back in.

Here:
You can view the live videos of past council meetings and from the video link, there are time stamps which if you click on that section of the agenda will take you right to that section of the video. The minutes from the meeting also get eventually released usually after a week or so.

The discussion went a long time and the councilmembers discussed it a lot but ultimately, they have such a budget crisis and they decided Yakima City can't spend the extra 5 to 7 million it is projected to cost for keeping the tracks. If you listen you can hear they seemed to suggest even if the trolleys could find a few million then maybe they could add it back in and spread it out over a few years. But as it is, there is about a year to find funding.

This is sad as if 6th Ave does get paved over, then after all these ~119 years the US would finally lose this last historically intact electric interurban! 😒

Thanks very much Eric for sharing this with the group while I was busy and also thanks to Eric, Jim, Tim and anyone else who wrote in to the Yakima Council and thanks to all the SEVA folks who have helped testify in the past...Β 

If anyone has any ideas for specific funding sources however big or small please share. You can also email ideas to: in...@yakimavalleytrolleys.org

And you can join the Trolley Angels group or also stay up to date on happenings via the YVT Facebook postings at their official page here:

Best Regards,
Stephen Johnsen
President, SEVA
Seattle Electric Vehicle Association
EDUCATE :: DEMONSTRATE :: ADVOCATE


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