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Project Title & Location
Vancouver Rail Project Incl. 39th Bridge Street – Vancouver, WA
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Project Description
Constructs capacity improvement that includes a by-pass of freight yard and 39th Street grade separation. This project will improve schedule reliability and is part of the improvements for the 5th Amtrak Cascades round trip. Currently in preliminary engineering phase.
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Contractor/Consultant
BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, Texas
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Recent Progress
This project will construct main line tracks to allow eastbound and northbound freight trains to bypass the rail yard in Vancouver. A rail siding for stopping freight trains clear of the north-south main line and a new vehicle overpass will also be constructed. This will free up capacity on the north-south main line and improve on-time performance of the Amtrak Cascades trains.
The design of the W 39th Street Bridge is complete and the cost estimate remains within the current contingencies. To obtain the needed Construction and Maintenance Agreement with BNSF Railway, the advertisement date for construction of the bridge was delayed from October 2008 to February 2009. While the bridge will be completed in October 2010, the rail work, which must be completed after the bridge is constructed, will not be completed until July 2012; this is a 12-month delay as previously reported.
Also, as previously reported, WSDOT and BNSF have analyzed the costs of the first phase of construction. The unit costs are within those of the previous estimate, but as the design has been refined, the quantities for earthwork have increased. With rail design now 75 percent complete, the overall project estimate is $35.3 million above the current project budget. WSDOT did not seek additional funds for the project during the 2008 legislative session.
BNSF has begun property purchases for the western half of the rail improvements and WSDOT authorized BNSF to begin construction on the first phases of construction in October 2007. The current phase of rail construction will be completed in the summer of 2009.
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Design Construction Impacts
Project engineering began in January 2003. The WSDOT Rail Office, Southwest Region, city of Vancouver, and BNSF Railway will coordinate the bridge, roadway, and rail work included in the project.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
The Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in August 2003. Only local and state permits will be required, per the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Impacts to nesting and feeding Bald Eagles will have to be addressed and/or avoided.
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Impacts to Traffic
There may be some brief work windows that may affect rail operations for both freight and passenger trains as new track is connected to the current track. Amtrak Cascades passengers may occasionally be moved by motor coach to allow for these work windows. Local roadway traffic will need to be rerouted during construction of the new bridge at W. 39th St. and associated roadways. This closure will be coordinated with the city of Vancouver Traffic Staff.
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