Regional Railroad Authority

The Washington County Regional Railroad Authority (WCRRA) is the Washington County government entity charged with the preservation and improvement of local rail service for agriculture, industry, and passenger traffic and provides for the preservation of abandoned rail right-of-way for future transportation uses. The state law that allowed Washington County to create a Regional Railroad Authority was passed in 1980.

Washington County established its Regional Railroad Authority Nov. 17, 1987, through resolution #87-197. Pursuant to its creation, state statute gives the WCRRA multiple powers and restrictions on those powers for accomplishing its goals. Some of these powers are highlighted below:

  • Ability to acquire real and personal property within or outside its taxing jurisdiction
  • Ability to hold, manage, control, sell, convey, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of property
  • Ability to apply for state and federal funds
  • Ability to tax
  • Ability to exercise eminent domain
  • Ability to collect a fee for use of its property
  1. WCRRA Board of Commissioners
  2. Need for the WCRRA

The WCRRA Board of Commissioners is comprised of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. When it is necessary to hold a WCRRA board meeting, the WCRRA Board holds its meetings in conjunction with the Washington County Board meetings.