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Project Title & Location
Palouse River & Coulee City RR Acquisition -- Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, & Adams Counties
Palouse River & Coulee City RR Rehabilitation--Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, & Adams Counties
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Project Description
Purchase the 296-mile Palouse River and Coulee City RR to preserve the transportation corridors for long-term availability. Select operators for each Branch and make emergency repairs to provide an immediate opportunity for economically viable freight transportation operations.
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Recent Progress
The 2008 Legislature broke down the PCC Acquisition and Rehabilitation project into two separate projects. This document will accommodate progress for both the acquisition and rehabilitation projects.
Acquisition
WSDOT is working with the PCC and shippers to establish boundaries for each lease on the P & L and PV Hooper branches. This will provide the basis for preparing the final deed that will formally transfer the additional property that the State purchased in the May 2007 transaction with the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad.
Rehabilitation
WSDOT completed an inspection and review of the lines and consultation with its railroad operators. Based on the information gathered in that process, WSDOT selected the high priority rehabilitation work items that can be completed this construction season. Final engineering and environmental work needed to advertise the projects for bid is in progress.
WSDOT met with local governments, individually and collectively, to explore formation of intergovernmental entities to govern the PCC rail lines. The four counties through which the PCC runs, formed a collective entity to accept oversight and management responsibility for business and economic development matters in the operating leases.
WSDOT completed its conceptual study of reconnecting the PV Hooper and P & L lines, which were severed when a railroad trestle burned in August 2006, just east of Colfax. In January 2008 the study was submitted to the legislature for its consideration.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
No environmental compiance is required, because the railroad is already in operation.
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Impacts to Traffic
Purchase of the railroad will provide an opportunity for shippers to continue to use rail as a modal choice in portions of eastern Washington. Truck traffic should be reduced as a result.
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