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Project Title & Location
Blaine - Customs Facility Siding, Blaine, WA
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Project Description
Constructs additional rail line capacity to accommodate customs and security needs, while reducing congestion and delays for freight and passenger trains on the main line.
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Contractor/Consultant
BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, Texas
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Recent Progress
This project, funded in the 2005 package at $3.0 million, will increase rail line capacity at the Swift Customs Facility and will improve Amtrak Cascades schedule reliability. State funds will supplement a $3.0 million federal earmark.
The project may have delays because of changes to project scope. This will require that $1.3 million of federal funds from the 2005-2007 biennium be re-appropriated into the 2007-2009 biennium.
WSDOT and BNSF have agreed upon the scope of the project to keep the project within budget. Final design began in September 2007, with construction scheduled for July 2008. However, this will not delay the completion of construction, scheduled for June 2009.
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Design Construction Impacts
The city of Blaine has expressed concern about the location of US Homeland Security’s rail car inspection machine and the blockage of traffic at SR 548. This machine is located at the northern end of the project area. The new inspection tracks will not alleviate this problem. Only relocation of the machine will change this situation. Neither BNSF nor US Homeland Security intends to move the machine at this time.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
New inspection tracks on the south side of the project area may require the filling of some wetlands. This will require permits necessary to comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
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Impacts to Traffic
The project may impact freight and passenger operations when construction commences. Amtrak Cascades passengers will be moved by motor coach during some work windows.
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