Washington Rail Projects Receive $115MM

On September 30, 2022, a freight train of Columbia Basin Railroad (CBRW) returns from Connell to Warden. The train led by CBRW 651, 608 and 166, all EMD SD9 or SD9-rebuilds, is pictured at Schlomer in Franklin County.

Courtesy of Jerry Huddleston via Wikimedia Commons

SPOKANE, Wash. - Projects across the state of Washington have received $115 million for infrastructure upgrades.

According to a release from Senator Patty Murray’s office, nine major investments will receive a total $115,577,598 from the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. 

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 

• Received $37,700,000 for the design and rehabilitation of Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad (PCC).
• This is in addition to a $72.8 million CRISI grant awarded last year.
• The PCC project is part of a multi-phase effort to improve the system to handle heavier, faster cars. 
• The project will help Eastern Washington agricultural products remain competitive by helping products reach consumers faster.

Port of Kalama

• Received $26,323,386 for a rail expansion project that includes new replacement tracks. 
• The replacement tracks will support two loaded and two empty trains in storage at the port.
• The Port of Kalama will match 20%.

St. Paul & Pacific Northwest Railroad Company

• Received $23,469,151 to replace 18 miles of older jointed rail in two sections. 
• The replacement includes 136 lbs of continuous welded rail and 85,000 new concrete and steel rail ties along the line.
• This will upgrade the line to meet FRA Class 3 classification requirements.
• St. Paul & Pacific Northwest will contribute a 21% match.

Columbia Basin Railroad Company

• Received $11,552,000 that will go toward rehabilitating 20 miles of the line.
• The project will replace 10 miles of rail and 8,000 crossties. 
• With this rehabilitation, the railroad can increase operating speeds and subsequently increase capacity to move freight. 
• Columbia Basin Railroad will contribute a 20% match.

Tacoma Rail

• Received $8,316,000 to replace four old locomotive engines with Tier 4 diesel electric engines.
• These will subsequently reduce harmful Nix emissions by 90%.
• This grant comes separately to the $4.095 million grant received last year.
• The new engines will eliminate more than 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel consumption annually, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 200 short tons.

WSDOT’s Puget Sound Rail Corridor Improvement Project

• the project received $6,451,894.25 to eliminate gaps between rails and install heaters on turnouts to prevent ice buildup.
• WSDOT and BNSF will contribute a 50% match.

Rainier Rail

• Received $1,765,167 to improve four bridges in Western Washington
• This includes the Minnesota St. Bridge in Rainier, WA.
• The improvements include replacing structural components and increasing clearance on the Minnesota St. Bridge.
• Crews will install larger rail to allow for 286,000 lbs rail cars and replace ties.
• Rainier Rail will contribute a 21% match.

OmniTRAX

• Received $50,570,400 to replace railroad ties on four short lines across four states.
• It will install 24,513 ties on 29.9 miles of the KFR San Poil Subdivision near Danville, WA.
• OmniTRAX will contribute a 20% match.

Watco Companies

• Received $19,843,062 to replace diesel locomotives with battery electric, zero emission locomotives at its facilities.
• This includes the Packaging Corporation of America in Washington