Sioux Falls closes on downtown rail yard purchase

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The city of Sioux Falls, N.D., and BNSF closed on the city's purchase of the downtown rail yard.

 

“The city of Sioux Falls officially owns 10 acres of land with unlimited potential smack-dab in the heart of our city,” said Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether. “The work of so many has paid off, but now we need to make the taxpayers of America proud as we develop this land.”

On July 22, 2015, the city of Sioux Falls announced that negotiations had concluded with BNSF for the purchase of the downtown rail yard. The city agreed to purchase the rail yard for $27,334,500, utilizing federal funds.

The purchase agreement removes the majority of the rail yard in downtown and provides more than 10 acres of property for redevelopment. BNSF will retain two mainline tracks through the downtown area to maintain their rail operations. The city will take full possession of the property in two years, once BNSF completes construction of new siding tracks north of Rice Street and west of Timberline Avenue.

Tags: