|
Project Title & Location
Mt. Vernon Siding Upgrade – Mt. Vernon
|
Project Description
Completes contractual commitments with the host railroad to upgrade the existing rail siding for on-time reliability. Guarantees the continued operation of the second train on this route, currently operating between Seattle and Bellingham.
|
|
Recent Progress
This project will design and extend the existing siding to allow for full-length freight trains to use the siding and allowing Amtrak Cascades trains to pass them. As previously reported, unknown costs for mitigating the Hickox Road closure, wetland mitigation, and rail control signals exceeds the funds available in the current biennium. This will delay the start and completion of construction.
In order for the extended siding to be used as intended by BNSF freight trains, the at-grade crossing of Hickox Road needs to closed, so that trains waiting on the siding more than an hour do not block roadway traffic. The proposed closure continues to meet with resistance by residents and officials from the city of Mt. Vernon and Skagit County. BNSF has not yet petitioned the WUTC for closure of the crossing. This legal process could take four months to a year. Considering this timeline, the project will not begin before June 2007, and will not be completed before January 2008.
Wetland mitigation construction, which will be done in conjunction with that for the SR 20 - Fredonia to Interstate 5 - Additional Lanes project, will not begin until after July 2007.
In December, WSDOT had previously requested that $416,000 be re-appropriated into the 2007-2009 biennium. At this time WSDOT anticipates that an additional $1,870,000 will not be spent in the 2005-2007 biennium..
|
|
Environmental Impacts / Compliance
The first phase of the project, the upgrade of the existing track, required only documentation for compliance with both the National and State Environmental Protection Acts. The second phase of the project, the siding extension, will require a biological assessment for its effects on endangered species. In February 2006 a wetland was discovered; a wetland fill permit has been applied for and is pending.
|
Impacts to Traffic
There may be some brief work windows that may affect rail operation for both freight and passenger trains as old signals are replaced with new signals. Amtrak Cascades passengers may experience short delays on trains traveling between Vancouver or Bellingham and Seattle. The Hickox Road at-grade crossing may need to be closed to allow the siding extension to be used .
|