Rail - Geiger Spur/Airway Heights - New Rail Connection

Quarterly Project Report Update for Quarter Ending March 2007

Project Title & Location
Geiger Spur Connection, Spokane County

Project Description
Relocate exiting part of existing rail line to provide conection with PCC near Medical Lake.

Contractor/Consultant
Western Rail Services operates the rail which is owned by Spokane County.

Recent Progress
Tribal consultation was started on February and is progressing.  90 percent engineering for the spur was completed and 100 percent engineering is scheduled to be completed in mid-March.  Discussions continue about certain options in the design and the type of the material to be used.  Draft contracts have been exchanged and final versions should be ready for signing in May.

The major concern with this project is that the cost of the work is estimated by the county to be about $2 million more than the available state funds.  The county is working to try to determine a source of extra funds to enable the project to go ahead as planned.  This will delay the completion of the project and WSDOT has requested that $4,700,000 be re-appropriated into 2007-2009.

Design Construction Impacts
Construction impacts have not been determined.  It is anticipated that construction on the new alignment may cause some noise and dust.

Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Spokane County is responsible for identifying environmental impacts.

Impacts to Traffic
Only brief delays to rail traffic will be required during construction.  Construction of new highway/rail grade crossings may cause brief delay to motorists.

Project Milestones Scheduled Attained Milestone Outlook
Begin Engineering Jun 2005 Mar 2007 Completed in March 2007. 
ROW Purchased Apr 2007 Anticipated for August 2007.
Construction Begins Aug 2007
Construction Complete Aug 2008
Project Cost Summary: Dollars in
millions
Percent
of Total

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

Preliminary Engineering $0.7 14%
Right-of-Way $1.0 20%
Construction $3.3 66%
Funded Project Costs $5.0 100%

Nickel funds included in above costs

$3.5 70%

2005 Transportation Partnership Account

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

Andrew Wood, Deputy Rail & Marine Director at 360-705-7938 E-mail WoodA@wsdot.wa.gov