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Project Title & Location
Palouse River & Coulee City RR Acquisition -- Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, & Adams Counties
Palouse River & Coulee City RR Rehabilitation--Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, & Adams Counties
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Project Description
Purchase the 296-mile Palouse River and Coulee City RR to preserve the transportation corridors for long-term availability. Select operators for each Branch and make emergency repairs to provide an immediate opportunity for economically viable freight transportation operations.
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Recent Progress
Acquisition
WSDOT is working with the PCC and shippers to establish boundaries for each lease on the P & L and PV Hooper branches. This will provide the basis for preparing the final deed that will formally transfer the additional property that the State purchased in the May 2007 transaction with the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation projects were advertised for bid in by branch.
The CW Branch Rehabilitation project bids were opened in June 2008 and the contract was awarded to Balfour Beatty Construction.
The P & L Branch Rehabilitation project was advertised in June 2008 and bids are scheduled to be opened in July 2008.
The PV Hooper Branch Rehabilitation project was advertised in June 2008 and bids are scheduled to be opened in July 2008.
Additional Rehabilitation Projects and Oversight of Operating Leases
As required by the proviso for use of another $8.6 million appropriation for rehabilitation of the lines, the PCC Rail Authority entered into an agreement with WSDOT to oversee the business and economic provisions of the operating leases with the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad, the Washington and Idaho Railway Co., and the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad.
The PCC Rail Authority also entered into an agreement for WSDOT to directly manage the additional rehabilitation projects based on a study performed by WSDOT in 2007. WSDOT began environmental reviews so that construction can begin in spring of 2009.
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Environmental Impacts / Compliance
No environmental compiance is required, because the railroad is already in operation.
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Impacts to Traffic
Purchase of the railroad will provide an opportunity for shippers to continue to use rail as a modal choice in portions of eastern Washington. Truck traffic should be reduced as a result.
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