Project Facts
- Siding is track located next to a main line that allows a train to move out of the way of an oncoming train.
- Sidings are also used to store trains, and to add or subtract rail cars.
- The siding will allow freight train inspections to occur off the main line, helping to ensure that passenger trains operate on time.
July 2008
Design is currently underway. Environmental permitting is to be finished in July 2008. Construction may start in September 2008 depending on final design completion.
Why is WSDOT
adding track siding at the Swift Customs Facility and at the Canadian border?
Congestion on the tracks south of Blaine, near the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, can cause delays for Amtrak Cascades passenger trains traveling between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The End Result
The end result is faster, more reliable Amtrak Cascades service. Additional track capacity will also help support the more efficient flow of passenger and freight trains in the cross-border region.
Project Benefits
- Accommodates freight rail traffic growth
- Supports the long-term goals of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- More reliable Amtrak Cascades service
What is the project timeline?
Construction may start in September 2008. Construction is scheduled to be completed by June 2009.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Contact the WSDOT State Rail and Marine Office for more information.
Environmental Protection
As WSDOT works with partners to identify, plan, and design construction projects aimed at expanding passenger rail service, detailed environmental review is undertaken for each project. For major construction projects, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is often necessary. Precise environmental issues have not been defined at this time.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
This project will support the public safety mission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
No project-related tribal resource impacts have yet been identified. WSDOT will address the concerns of tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
Financial Information
This project is funded through the following sources:
- 2005 Partnership Funding (Weight Fees) - $3 million
- Federal Funds - $3 million
- Total Funding From All Sources - $6 million
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Lynnette Gregory
Project Manager
State Rail and Marine Office
PO Box 47407
Olympia, WA 98504-7407
360-705-7903
E-mail: Lynnette Gregory
Construction on this project will be managed by BNSF Railway. For contracting information, contact Danniel MacDonald.
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