Project Facts
- Georgia Pacific has ceased operations at the site.
- The city and Port of Bellingham want to redevelop 137 waterfront acres acquired by the Port.
- WSDOT is working with the city and BNSF Railway to relocate 0.75 miles of main line track.
July 2008
WSDOT is working with the city and Port of Bellingham on this project. The cost estimate for relocating the main line along the preferred alignment identified in the study is $10.7 million, which is $5.7 million more than what is currently available for construction.
Site investigations performed during the study revealed evidence of possible ancient fishing activities near the proposed route of the relocated rail line. With approval from the federal government, the BNSF Railway, and local tribes, WSDOT and the city will perform more detailed site investigations in 2008.
The 2008 Washington State Legislature moved the $5.0 million in state construction funds appropriated for this project from the current biennium to the 2009-2011 biennium. This action will allow local leaders and others to secure additional funds for the rail relocation and roadway improvement projects.
Overview
The city and Port of Bellingham intend to redevelop the former Georgia Pacific industrial site in downtown Bellingham for commercial, recreational, and residential uses. This effort is known as the Waterfront District Redevelopment Project. For more information, please go to Waterfront District Redevelopment Project page.
Why is WSDOT
participating in the city of Bellingham's waterfront redevelopment project?
The waterfront restoration project includes removing a sharp curve in the BNSF Railway's main line track near the former Georgia Pacific site and relocating the railroad tracks further to the east. The relocated tracks will allow passenger and freight trains moving through the area to travel at slightly higher speeds.
The End Result
WSDOT will relocate a section of the BNSF Railway main line track.
Project Benefits
- The city and Port of Bellingham will have new waterfront land available for development
- Trains on the BNSF Railway tracks can maintain higher speeds in the area.
What is the project timeline?
The project does not have enough funding to complete construction. As a result, the Washington State Legislature has moved the state's $5.0 million from the current biennium to the 2009-2011 biennium. If additional funds can be secured, the earliest the project could be completed is June 2011.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Please contact the WSDOT State Rail and Marine Office for more information.
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 project may include changes to, or elimination of, one or more road/rail (at-grade) crossings.
All work, including any changes to road/rail (at-grade) crossings, will be made in conformance to American Railway Engineering Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) and BNSF Railway track standards, to help ensure the safe operation of trains.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
Recent site investigations revealed evidence of possible ancient fishing activities near the proposed route of the relocated rail line. WSDOT and the city are working with local tribes to determine the significance of this discovery. WSDOT and the city will address this discovery 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 - $5.0 million
- Federal Funding - $495,000
- Total Funding From All Sources - $5,495,000
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Kirk Fredrickson
Project Manager
WSDOT State Rail and Marine Office
PO Box 47407
Olympia, WA 98504-7407
Phone: 360.705.7939
E-mail: Kirk Fredrickson
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