Recent studies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration (July 2020) and another by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (September 2022), explored in detail the benefits and drawbacks of many aspects of removing the lower Snake River dams. While the Corps study did investigate the transportation impacts (see the Transportation discussion under MO3), the NOAA study did not.
Because the transportation impacts of removing the lower Snake River dams were not sufficiently addressed in those prior studies, the Legislature directed WSDOT to conduct an analysis of highway, road and freight rail transportation needs, options and impacts from shifting the movement of freight and goods that currently move by barge through the lower Snake River dams to highways, other roads and rail.
The study should generate volume estimates and evaluate scenarios for changes in infrastructure and operations that would be necessary to address those additional volumes. The assessment must include quantitative analysis based on available data in terms of both financial and carbon emission costs. The analysis must also include a robust inclusive public engagement process to solicit feedback from interested community members.
This is a legislative proviso under ESHB 1125 Section 217 (11).
There are no outcomes at this time.
If you would like updates on the project, you may get them via WSDOT GovDelivery. Once you enter your email address and click "go", you will automatically be subscribed to the “Transportation Impacts of Lower Snake River Dam Removal” updates.
Updates via GovDelivery will be provided quarterly, when public engagement meetings are taking place, and when the interim and final reports are available.
Jim Mahugh
LSRD Study Lead
Transportation Operations
360-705-7245
Jim.Mahugh@wsdot.wa.gov
