Freight rail

2022

• As of December 31, 2022, 40 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail structures and freight movement were underway
• WSDOT received $25 million in federal money for the Salmon Bay Bridge project over the Ballard locks

WSDOT administers grants and loans funding 40 freight rail projects underway in 2022

A total of 40 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail infrastructure and freight mobility were underway as of December 31, 2022. The work will continue in upcoming years and includes projects funded by the Connecting Washington and Move Ahead Washington transportation packages, state and federal freight rail grants, and a state freight rail loan program.

Of these 40 freight rail projects, two (5%) were in the scoping phase, five (12.5%) were in the agreement stage, eight (20%) were being designed, 14 (35%) were under construction, and 10 (25%) were in the final closeout phase.

The legislature approved 19 of these projects as part of the 2021-2023 biennial transportation budget, the remaining 21 projects were approved in previous biennia.

2021

• As of December 31, 2021, 45 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail structures and freight movement were underway
• WSDOT's Washington Rural Rail Rehabilitation project was completed in 2021

WSDOT administers grants and loans funding 45 freight rail projects underway in 2021

A total of 45 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail infrastructure and freight mobility were underway as of December 31, 2021. The work will continue in upcoming years and includes projects funded by the Connecting Washington transportation package, state and federal freight rail grants, and a state freight rail loan program.

Of these 45 freight rail projects, two (4.4%) were in the scoping phase, four (8.9%) were in the agreement stage, 14 (31.1%) were being designed, nine (20%) were under construction, and 16 (35.6%) were in the final closeout phase.

The legislature approved 13 of these projects as part of the 2021-2023 biennial transportation budget, the remaining 32 projects were approved in previous biennia.

2020

• As of December 31, 2020, 42 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail structures and freight movement were underway
• Construction on WSDOT's Washington Rural Rail Rehabilitation project began in 2020

WSDOT administers grants and loans funding 42 freight rail projects underway in 2020

A total of 42 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail infrastructure and freight mobility were underway as of December 31, 2020. The work, which will continue in upcoming years, includes projects funded by the Connecting Washington transportation package, state and federal freight rail grants, and a state freight rail loan program.

Of these 42 freight rail projects, three (7.1%) were in the agreement stage, 14 (33.3%) were being designed, 14 (33.3%) were under construction, and 11 (26.2%) were in the final closeout phase.

The legislature approved 29 of these projects as part of the 2019-2021 biennial transportation budget, while the remaining 13 projects were approved in previous biennia.

2019

• As of December 31, 2019, 53 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail structures and freight movement were underway
• The Washington Grain Train shipped 2,604 rail carloads of grain in 2019, up 29% from 2,011 in 2018

WSDOT administers grants and loans funding 53 freight rail projects underway in 2019

A total of 53 WSDOT-administered projects to improve freight rail infrastructure and freight mobility were underway as of December 31, 2019. The work, which will continue throughout the 2019-2021 biennium and beyond, includes projects funded by the Connecting Washington transportation package, state and federal freight rail grants, and a state freight rail loan program.

Of these 53 freight rail projects, 29 (54.7%) were in the final closeout phase, four (7.5%) were under construction, 16 (30.2%) were being designed, two (3.8%) were in the agreement stage and two (3.8%) were in the initial scope confirmation stage. Some of these projects were paused in December 2019 pending Legislative budget action.

The legislature approved 14 new projects as part of the 2019-2021 transportation budget, while the remaining 39 projects had been approved in previous biennia.

2018

• WSDOT had 43 projects to improve freight rail structures and freight movement underway as of December 31, 2018
• Approximately $19.7 million in Freight Rail Assistance Program funds supported 29 state freight rail grant projects that were underway in Washington in 2018

WSDOT has 43 projects underway to improve freight rail structures and movement in 2018

A total of 43 projects to improve freight rail structures and freight movement in Washington were underway as of December 31, 2018. The work, which will continue throughout the remainder of the 2017-2019 biennium and beyond, includes projects funded by the Connecting Washington transportation package, state and federal grants, and a loan program.

Of these 43 freight rail projects, 16 (37.2%) were in the final close out phases, 13 (30.2%) were under construction, nine (20.9%) were being designed, two (4.7%) were in the agreement stage and three (7.0%) were in the initial scope confirmation stage. WSDOT had 29 of 43 (67.4%) in the construction and close out phases by December 31, 2018. This was a higher percentage of projects compared to the end of 2017, when the agency had 24 of 48 (50%) projects in the construction and close out phases.

The overall number of projects for the 2017-2019 biennium shows a decrease because eight projects were completed and removed from the list above. Three new projects were approved in the 2018 supplemental budget and added to the list. The list includes projects that cross three different biennia (2013-2015, 2015-2017 and 2017-2019).