Project Title & Location
Wheeler to Soap Lake Rail Line Engineering

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
BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, Texas

Recent Progress

This project provides $2 million for preliminary engineering to examine restoration of an abandoned rail line, or construction of new alignment, between the BNSF main line in the vicinity of Soap Lake and the Columbia Basin RR at Wheeler, with a connection to the Port of Moses Lake.  The Port of Moses Lake is currently served by the Columbia Basin RR via a circuitous route made up of parts of three separate railroads.  The route also passes through the city of Moses Lake over several at-grade crossings including SR 17 and along the lake.

While local interests sponsored a brief study of the feasibility of relocating rail service, no true project scope was developed.  WSDOT has met with Port representatives, as well as state legislators Mulliken, Holmquist, and Hinkle, on steps to develop a scope.  WSDOT will perform a full feasibility study to assess the benefits of the project by January 2006.  This full study will be used to determine further funding of the project.  The information gathered would also support any future environmental documentation for the project.  The study budget is $270,000.

Design Construction Impacts
This project is a feasibility study.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
If funded, several of the segments identified by the Port of Moses Lake could have environmental impacts. New alignments would require compliance with Surface Transportation Board environmental procedures.   

Impacts to Traffic
This project is a feasibility study.

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)

Nickel funds included in above costs

2005 Transportation Partnership Account