Washington Rail Systems to Receive $115M in Infrastructure Upgrades

10.24.24

Washington Rail Systems to Receive $115M in Infrastructure Upgrades

Nine projects awarded include $37.7M for RR that moves Eastern WA wheat, $26.3M for Port of Kalama rail expansion to load grain exports faster; Awards also go to projects in Tacoma, Moses Lake, Chewelah, Rainier, Ferry County, and Puget Sound Rail Corridor

SPOKANE, WA - Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced nine major investments in Washington state's rail system infrastructure, totaling $115,577,598.

The improvements will boost railroad capacity all across the state, helping move freight and agricultural products quickly and more safely between our communities and on to international markets.

The grants come from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) received $37,700,000 million for final design and construction of rehabilitation of the Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad (PCC). This is in addition to a $72.8 million CRISI grant for the railroad project that WSDOT received last year.

"Wheat farmers in the state rely heavily on the Washington State Grain Train to help export 90 percent of the product they grow. This funding will replace lightweight, 100-year-old, worn rail with 34 miles of upgraded heavyweight track to accommodate heavy railcars, allowing train speeds to double, helping farmers get their goods to market more efficiently," Sen. Cantwell said.

"Washington state growers need fast and reliable transportation systems to get their products to market, especially if they want to compete in tough international markets-this is critical for our wheat growers and this major federal investment will help ensure Washington state farmers have the kind of infrastructure they need to succeed," said Sen. Murray. "This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21^st century."

This PCC project is part of a multi-phase effort to improve the railroad system so it can handle heavier, faster rail cars and better withstand extreme weather conditions. Grant funding will help replace light-weight worn rail and rotten railroad ties, as well as rebuild dilapidated roadway crossings and surface tracks. Federal funds will cover 65% of the total project cost.

The PCC serves a critical part of the wheat supply chain in Eastern Washington. This project will help ensure rural Eastern Washington agricultural products remain competitive in the global marketplace, by helping products reach customers faster. Rehabilitation of this freight corridor is important to maintain the region's economic viability. By keeping rail shipments available and competitive, this project will reduce road maintenance, enhance economic development, improve the environment, and bring long-term jobs to rural communities.

The Port of Kalama received $26,323,386 for a rail expansion project.

"The Port of Kalama is already one of the largest grain export terminals on the West Coast. This funding will increase the port's grain terminal efficiency by 25-30 percent meaning that farmers not just from Washington, but as far east as Wisconsin, can get their products to market faster," Sen. Cantwell said.

"These new replacement tracks are going to help the Port of Kalama transport even more goods, including grain, from rail to ship, faster than ever by allowing it to store empty trains at the port," said Sen. Murray. "This is going to be a real boost for trade in the region, and it is exactly what the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law looks like at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21st century."

The proposed project will replace rail tracks at the Port of Kalama in Washington. The replacement tracks will support storage of two loaded and two empty trains simultaneously at the port. The project is expected to increase loading efficiency in the direct loading of grain from rail to ship by up to 30 percent. The Port of Kalama will contribute a 20 percent match. Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter in support of the project to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, that letter is available HERE. Sen. Murray wrote a letter of support for the project to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

The St. Paul & Pacific Northwest Railroad Company received $23,469,151 to improve track along the railroad's main line in northeast Washington.

"The St. Paul & Pacific Northwest railroad transports two million tons of lumber and other goods annually across Eastern Washington. With this funding, the railroad will upgrade and rehabilitate over 80 miles of mainline track, speeding products to market more safely and reliably," Sen. Cantwell said.

"This funding is going to help update outdated rail infrastructure that Washington state businesses and consumers rely on-this means safer, more efficient rails while creating good paying jobs," said Sen. Murray. "This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21st century."

The proposed project on this line between Chewelah, WA and Columbia Gardens, British Columbia, will replace approximately 18 miles (in two sections) of older jointed rail with 136 lb. continuous welded rail and install approximately 85,000 new concrete and steel rail ties along the entire line. This will upgrade the line to meet FRA Class 3 classification requirements, which improves safety and reliability. St. Paul & Pacific Northwest will contribute a 21 percent match. Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter in support of the project to Sec. Buttigieg, that letter is available HERE. Sen. Murray wrote a letter of support for the project to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

The Columbia Basin Railroad Company, which operates between Moses Lake and Connell in central Washington, received $11,552,000 to rehabilitate approximately 10 miles of their railroad line.

"The Columbia Basin Railroad serves over 50 businesses and is a lifeline for Washington farmers and exporters across Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, and Whitman counties. This funding will facilitate critically needed track repairs which will enable increased freight capacity and operating speeds," Sen. Cantwell said.

"When it comes to the rails our trains travel every day-and which connect companies and communities across Washington state with crucial goods, services, and opportunities-it is important we have safe, reliable tracks," said Sen. Murray. "By helping to replace some 8,000 cross ties, and 10 miles of rail, this funding will help us make sure the tracks serving the Columbia Basin are in tip top shape and will safely increase operating speeds and capacity. This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21st century."

The proposed project will replace approximately ten miles of rail and approximately 8,000 cross ties on the Columbia Basin Railroad. This will enhance safety and improve system performance as the project will return the line to a state of good repair, increase operating speeds, and allow for increased capacity to move freight, benefitting over 50 customers served by the Columbia Basin Railroad. Columbia Basin Railroad will contribute a 20 percent match.

Tacoma Rail received $8,316,000 to replace the engines of four old locomotive with new Tier 4 diesel electric engines that will reduce harmful NOx emissions by about 90 percent. This is in addition to $4.095 million the railroad received last year to replace two high-polluting diesel electric switcher locomotives with two zero-emission battery-electric switcher locomotives. Sen. Murray wrote a letter of support for the project to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

"With this grant funding, Tacoma Rail will replace the engines of four old locomotives with new clear diesel electric engines. This will reduce emissions by 200 tons per year and reduce fuel consumption by more than 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually. A significant step in contributing to the region's climate action goals and reducing shipping costs for farmers," Sen. Cantwell said.

"This investment will help ensure we reduce carbon emissions while still moving freights as quickly and efficiently as possible-and creating good-paying jobs in the process," said Sen. Murray. "This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-helping us build a stronger clean energy economy while upgrading our national infrastructure."

Tier 0 project locomotives are equipped with diesel engines that were built between 1973 and 1992 - before the first federal EPA emission standards for locomotives were developed in 1997. The new engines will eliminate the consumption of more than 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year, which is expected to reduce up to 200 short tons of greenhouse gas emissions. These new locomotives will help the City of Tacoma and Port of Tacoma achieve local, county, regional, and state air quality and climate goals.

WSDOT's Puget Sound Rail Corridor Improvement Project received $6,451,894.25 to improve safety and help prevent winter weather delays.

"The Puget Sound Rail Corridor Improvement Project will upgrade rail switches between Everett and Vancouver, lowering maintenance costs and reducing weather delays for the two million passengers that ride Amtrak and Sound Transit each year," Sen. Cantwell said.

"I'm pleased to see this funding come back to Washington state to help keep trains running through our Puget Sound Corridor quickly, smoothly, and safely. Steps to tackle issues like eliminating gaps and preventing ice and snow build up are crucial to keep our tracks open and trains running full steam ahead-which is why this funding is so important. This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21st century," said Sen. Murray.

The proposed project will eliminate potentially dangerous gaps between rails and install electrically powered heaters on turnouts to prevent ice and snow buildup. This will enhance resilience, safety, and performance. The Washington State Department of Transportation and BNSF will contribute a 50 percent match.

Rainier Rail received $1,765,167 to improve four bridges in Western Washington, including the Minnesota St. Bridge in Rainier, WA.

"Rainier Rail provides important transportation connections for goods including aircraft materials and animal feed moving through western Washington. This project will improve their track capacity and replace aging rail ties to ensure they can continue serving customers in our state," Sen. Cantwell said.

"This investment will help modernize existing infrastructure so that Rainier Rail can accommodate more freight, getting more goods to where they need to go more quickly," said Sen. Murray. "This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21^st century."

The bridge improvements include replacement of structural components, increasing clearance on the Minnesota St. Bridge, installing larger rail to accommodate 286,000 lb. railcars, and replacing aging rail ties. The project will create a safer, more resilient, and environmentally sustainable rail network in the region as it will address safety concerns, environmental preservation, capacity limitations, climate resilience, and supply chain efficiency. Rainier Rail will contribute a 21 percent match.

A portion of two other grants announced today will fund rail upgrades in Washington state.

OmniTRAX received $50,570,400 to replace of railroad ties on four OmniTRAX-owned short lines across four states - including a line in Ferry County.

"Kettle Falls Railroad is a strategic rail asset in Ferry County, supporting millions of dollars in economic activity in Washington state. This funding will install new ties along nearly 30 miles of rail enabling freight to move more reliably and efficiently in Northeast Washington," Sen. Cantwell said.

"This funding will help deliver timely infrastructure updates in Washington state-meaning safer, more efficient, and more resilient railways," said Sen. Murray. "This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-strengthening supply chains and upgrading our infrastructure so that America can compete and win the 21^st century."

OmniTRAX will install 24,513 ties on approximately 29.9 miles of the KFR San Poil Subdivision near Danville, Washington. The line connects Kettle Falls to Grand Forks, Canada. The project will harden rail assets and update infrastructure, which will benefit rail users served by the short lines. OmniTRAX will contribute a 20 percent match. Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter in support of the project to Sec. Buttigieg, that letter is available HERE. Sen. Murray wrote a letter of support for the project to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

Watco Companies received $19,843,062 to replace diesel locomotives with battery electric, zero emission locomotives at their facilities, including the Packaging Corporation of America in Washington.

"With this funding we are replacing old diesel locomotives with clean battery electric, zero emission locomotives-that helps us cut down on harmful emissions and unhealthy pollution from diesel," said Sen. Murray. "This is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work-helping us build a stronger clean energy economy while upgrading our national infrastructure."

The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $2.477 billion in CRISI grants to 122 projects across the nation this year.

Sen. Cantwell secured $5 billion over 5 years for the CRISI program in her Surface Transportation Investment Act which was included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, tripling annual funding for the program.

The funding for the CRISI program comes from a mixture of annual appropriations and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-as Senate Appropriations Chair, Sen. Murray authors the annual appropriations bills and, as then Assistant Majority Leader, she played a critical role in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Sen. Murray secured a total of $2.97 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration in the fiscal year 2024 government funding bill she negotiated and passed into law and set aside $100,000,000 specifically for the competitive CRISI grants.

Sen. Murray also passed into law major reforms and oversight provisions to address the rail safety deficiencies identified in the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, providing a $27.3 million increase for FRA's safety and operations budget for rail safety inspectors in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bills. Murray also included language directing specific research requirements for: (1) wayside detection technology, operational alert thresholds, and rail carrier response protocols to inform and verify the technologies capabilities and establish industry-wide standards; and (2) long-train operational safety to evaluate equipment safety standards for brake systems and wheel performance to inform the development of continuous component monitoring. Sen. Murray also increased funding for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) emergency preparedness grants to $46.825 million and required the agency to conduct research to improve the survivability of placards identifying hazardous materials on trains. Sen. Murray is currently negotiating and working to pass into law Fiscal Year 2025 funding bills and the Senate funding bill Sen. Murray passed out of committee builds on these efforts to improve rail safety and strengthen rail safety funding.

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