May 2012
- This project was awarded funding as part of the federal High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) grant. WSDOT, BNSF Railway, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are currently ironing out agreements that are needed to proceed with the project.
Why is WSDOT
working on railroad tracks in the Cascades corridor?
Railroad tracks, just like roads, experience wear and tear and require periodic maintenance. This project addresses deficiencies along the corridor by improving track quality, reliability, and passenger ride comfort by upgrading track infrastructure with state of the art technology and equipment.
The End Result
The end result of this project is more reliable on-time performance for Amtrak Cascades intercity trains traveling between Seattle and Portland.
Major components of the work include:
- Cleaning ditches to improve drainage
- Grading and modifying areas where water is collecting
- Cleaning ballast and replacing ballast as needed
- Removing and replacing ties as needed
- Relaying and resurfacing rail as needed
Project Benefits
This project will make a series of repairs to the BNSF main line tracks between Nisqually and the Columbia River. These repairs will allow Amtrak Cascades trains to maintain maximum speeds over longer distances, resulting in better on-time performance.
What is the project timeline?
The project schedule is dependent upon execution of agreements with several parties. A detailed project schedule will be developed once the agreements are finalized.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - $91.7 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Melanie Coon
Communications Manager
State Rail and Marine Office
360-705-7905
coonm@wsdot.wa.gov
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