Re: Bound for Baker City

I will try to answer only because I was already reading the board. Some years back it was conceived to extend the track to Union Crk. Campground which is a large USFS facility along the shore of Phillips Reservoir. We own ROw on down the Sumpter Valley below present end of tracks. Then I think there may be some private land and St. Hwy ROw we would be on following the original route. A little below Hudspeth Rd. the original SVRy ROW is under the high water mark of the lake and eventually fully under the lake except when the reservoir is very low. The route chosen by an engineering firm followed along the lake shore on the Nat. Forest with some great vista across the lake, soon being well away from the Hwy view. An important part of this plan was to have an environmental assessment approved which it was and as far as I know remains active. USFS approved the plan which included a balloon loop in the campground and some sort of depot. The basic engineering, cost estimates were done and a source of grant funding sought. The project found it's way into a federal transportation funding bill, but was one of the pieces carved out as the process of passing legislation moved along. This was before the recession. Not being a board member, I don't know if there is any further consideration being given to the plan and search for funding. It would have about doubled the length of our ride, accessed new ridership potential in the families of campers wishing a diversion, perhaps a ride to Sumpter for ice cream or lunch. Under the plan, the ROW construction would have been all new material, such that very little maint. would have been involved for a good number of years. I hope the plan gets dusted off someday and comes to fruition, but then I am just one humble member.