Rail - Kelso to Martin's Bluff - 3rd Main Line and Storage Tracks

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending March 2008

Project Title & Location
Kelso-Martin’s Bluff, Cowlitz County, WA

Project Description
This project will reduce main line congestion near the Port of Kalama.

Contractor/Consultant
BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, Texas

Recent Progress
The 2007 Washington State Legislature instructed WSDOT to develop a plan for the $47.0 million that will be available in the 2011-2013 and 2013-2015 bienniums. The plan will be a scaled-down version of the larger improvement plan WSDOT was developing for the Kelso to Martin’s Bluff area that included a new, 18 mile-long third main line track and other railroad improvements. The new plan will be based on a detailed rail system analysis that is currently being performed by the BNSF Railway.

In 2008 Washington State Legislature moved this project's construction funds further into the future, from the 2011-2015 biennia to the 2013-2017 biennia.  The legislature also instructed WSDOT to complete the necessary environmental documents for this project by June 2009.

Design Construction Impacts
The construction impacts have not been determined.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
The environmental impacts have not been determined.

Impacts to Traffic
Impacts to rail and roadway traffic have not been determined.

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Project Definition Complete Jan 2008 Will not be met.  Anticipated to be completed September 2008.
Begin Preliminary Engineering Jul 2008 Will not be met.  Preliminary engineering will begin in July 2011.
Environmental Documentation Complete Jun 2013 Preliminary environmental documents will be completed by june 2009.
Construction Begins Jan 2013
Construction Complete Jan 2015
Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions
Percent
of Total

Planned vs. Actual Expenditures
(Total Project Cost)
Project Expenditure Chart

Preliminary Engineering $5.6 11%
Right-of-Way
Construction $47.5 89%
Funded Project Costs $53.1 100%

Nickel funds included in above costs

$50.0 94.2%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

  For more information, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects

Kirk Fredrickson, Project Manager at 360-705-7939 or E-mail: fredrik@wsdot.wa.gov