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Project Title & Location
Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project
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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.
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Contractor/Consultant
The federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) Washington DC
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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. WSDOT's consultant began work 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. 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.
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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.
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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.
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Impacts to Traffic
The next phase of the project will have no impact on rail operations or roadway traffic.
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