WSDOT seeks comment on PCC rail system plan

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks public input on a plan for prioritized improvements to the Palouse and Coulee City (PCC) Rail system in eastern Washington. Once finalized, the plan will be used to help develop future funding, policy and planning goals.

 

The WSDOT and the PCC Rail Authority developed the draft of the PCC Rail System Strategic Plan, which highlights the benefits of the rail system and lists recommended maintenance and repair projects and polices to boost farm-to-market rail transportation. Rail authority members include representatives from four counties in eastern Washington.

WSDOT held public meetings in Spokane, Ephrata and Clarkston last fall to gather input and identify needs. The agency will accept written comments on the draft plan until April 2.

The plan indicates that private and public investments in the rail system have not kept pace with preservation and maintenance needs. Trains now must run at slower speeds in some areas due to rail conditions. The strategic plan includes a list of capital-project priorities, including several that use lowest-cost options to maximize investments.
The 297-mile PCC rail line consists of three branch lines that carry freight through Spokane, Lincoln, Grant and Whitman counties.

The purpose of the PCC Strategic Plan is to outline the vision and goals for the PCC and to communicate what policies and projects are needed to achieve the goals. The plan is focused around the systems three key goals: safe operations, efficient operations and economic development.

The strategic plan includes two capacity projects, four track rehabilitation in the curves projects and replacement of defective rail, which totals $58,045,000.

WSDOT identified two projects that would increase the capacity of the strategic sections of the PCC to be able to handle railcars weighing up to 286,000 pounds. These projects are considered a priority for WSDOT and will be the first to be allocated funding should it become available.

The CW Branch from Cheney to Geiger Junction consists of rail from 85 lb. to 115 lb. with ties, ballast and drainage in fair condition. A proposed project focuses on track rehabilitation for sustained 286,000 pound car operations by replacing the following: rail weight less than 112 lb.; 40 percent of crossties; ballast and surfaces; lines and dresses the track and re-establishes ditches and replaces drainage pipes.

The P&L Branch between Marshall and McCoy currently has 112 lb. continuous welded rail in good condition. The weakness of this section of track is the ability of the existing bridges to support sustained 286,000 operations. A proposed P&L Marshall to McCoy project focuses on bridge replacement and repair for sustained 286,000-pound car operations. The project replaces 11 bridges and repairs four bridges and brings this section of track up to a standard of good repair.

 

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