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Project Title & Location
Geiger Spur/Airway Heights - New Rail Connection, Spokane County
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Project Description
Relocate exiting part of existing rail line to provide conection with PCC near Medical Lake.
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Recent Progress
This project will build a new rail connection to Spokane County's Airway Heights industrial park to replace the connection that currently passes through Fairchild Air Force Base.
The legislature has provided an additional $2 million ($1.8 million in 2003 Transportation Funding Package funds and $200,000 in federal highway funds for grade crossings). This filled the funding shortfall previously reported.
There was initial concern from the county about signing a contract that contained a section retaining the States contingent interest in the line. The State and the county signed a contract for the construction in August 2007. Construction may be delayed, because the county has not been able to purchase all the right-of-way (ROW) needed to complete the project. The county indicated they have agreed to a strategy to acquire the ROW and WSDOT agreed to release funds for the acquisition.
WSDOT and Spokane County are working to develop a construction plan and on closing the final purchase of the ROW. It is now likely that, as a route is available with the land acquired, we may be able to go to ad in spring 2008.
On March 31, 2008 the county advised WSDOT that all the ROW for the construction of this project has been purchased. As a result, documents are being prepared to enable bids to be sought.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
Spokane County is responsible for identifying environmental impacts.
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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.
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