To the editor,
We residents of Rockaway Beach love the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad and we know our visitors do as well. That said, the Port of Tillamook Bay tracks north of Rockaway are vastly underused and benefit few people. That portion of the rail right of way can be put to a much better use by removing the tracks to facilitate building the Salmonberry Trail, a rails to trails conversion project.
The rail tracks and right of way north of the Rockaway wayside are a greatly underused resource. Very few OCSR trips proceed beyond the Rockaway Beach Wayside. For the remainder of 2025, there are only two “Moonlight Excursions” scheduled, which are limited to passengers 21 and older, and happen at night when most businesses in those communities to our north are closed. So any claimed benefit to business is greatly overstated.
By comparison a rails to trails Salmonberry Trail will be freely available to visitors and local residents alike, year round for walking, bike riding, jogging, dog walking, etc.. Removing tracks is a first step in opening up some 70 miles of trail, all the way to Banks. A Salmonberry trailhead will allow Rockaway and Tillamook County to capitalize on the trail’s ability to attract visitors.
By every economic indicator, return on investment for rails to trails projects are overwhelmingly positive. These include job creation, small business growth,
local spending and property values. The Katy Trail in Missouri generated $29.2 million in 2022. Closer to home the Banks to Vernonia Trail, which the Salmonberry will connect to, is an excellent example of “upcycling” existing unused rails into improved access to the outdoors for Oregonians and visitors, while also creating a significant positive impact to the local economy.The Banks-
There is currently no safe route connecting the center of Rockaway with the Nedonna Beach neighborhood, for walkers, joggers, or bicyclists, etc.. A trail provides a safe transportation route for students making their way to Neakahnie High School, as well as other residents and visitors.
Rails to trails conversion projects, such as the Salmonberry are proven winners for the communities that build them. Trails are not only an attraction for visitors, but also a healthy, safe and economically positive amenity for local residents. Repurposing the rail right of way north of the Rockaway Beach Wayside is the first step in building something special that will benefit all of us for future generations. Lets do this.
Robbie McClaran
Rockaway Beach