Project Title & Location
Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project

Project Description
The first phase of this project will explore the feasibility and costs of several rail improvements intended to support economic development in the Moses Lake area.

Contractor/Consultant
The federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) Washington DC, HDR Engineering, Bellevue, WA

Recent Progress
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) agreed to allow WSDOT to be co-lead with the STB in performing the environmental study and documentation for the project.  HDR Engineering, Inc. will perform the work beginning in October 2006.  Development of the scope of work revealed a need to identify important plant community and habitat information in late spring and early summer due to the growing season of potential threatened, endangered, and candidate species.  As a result the draft environmental report cannot be completed until August 2007.  The final draft should be approved by May 2008.  WSDOT is working with its consultant to determine how much needs to be reappropriated for use in the next biennium.  The cost of the environmental work will leave about $650,000 of the total funding available for other work.  WSDOT is working with the Port of Moses Lake to explore appropriate use of the remaining funds.

Design Construction Impacts
The project does not include any construction at this time.  The next phase of the project will focus on the completion of environmental documents.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
WSDOT, the Port of Moses Lake, and the federal STB will complete a thorough review of environmental impacts before any construction takes place.

Impacts to Traffic
The next phase of the project will have no impact on rail operations or roadway traffic.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account