Project Facts
- The railroad tracks near Dayton were built in the early 1920's and cannot handle high volumes of modern, heavy rail cars.
- The Port of Columbia owns the rail line from Walla Walla to Dayton.
- Grain producers in the area use the rail line to transport grain cars to the barge terminal at Wallula.
September 2008
The original project was to improve the tracks near the Seneca Green Giant plant in Dayton. When rail traffic to and from the plant declined, improvements to the yard tracks were no longer necessary.
WSDOT is working with the Ports of Columbia and Walla Walla and the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad to identify the best use of these funds.
WSDOT will manage this project in conjunction with the
Port of Columbia/Wallula to Dayton Track Rehabilitation project.
Why is WSDOT
rehabilitating the rail line in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties?
The rail line serving Walla Walla and Columbia Counties needs to be kept in a good state of repair so that businesses can continue to have access to rail transportation.
The End Result
WSDOT will work with the local port districts and the operator, the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad, to identify the best use of project funds. The improvements will ensure that the rail line remains open for business.
Project Benefits
- Continuation of rail service to businesses in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties.
- Lower transportation costs for local shippers.
- Minimize wear and tear on state highways by providing an alternative to truck transportation.
What is the project timeline?
The funds that were originally intended for the Dayton Yard Rehabilitation will be redirected to another portion of the line and expended by June 2009.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Please contact the WSDOT State Rail and Marine Office for more information.
WSDOT continues to work with port districts, county governments, and rail-dependent shippers to collaborate on how to preserve this rail system for now and in the future.
Environmental Protection
As WSDOT works with partners to identify, plan, and design construction projects aimed at preserving freight rail service, detailed environmental review is undertaken for each project. For major construction projects, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is often necessary. Precise environmental issues have not been defined at this time.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
The rail line rehabilitation work will help ensure safe railroad operations.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
No project-related tribal resource impacts have yet been identified. WSDOT will address the concerns of tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- Pre-Existing State Funds - $270,000
- Total Funding From All Sources - $270,000
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Kirk Fredrickson
Project Manager
State Rail and Marine Office
PO Box 47407
Olympia, WA 98504-7407
Phone: 360.705.7939
E-mail: Kirk Fredrickson
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