State holds railroad open house

Public feedback sought Thursday

MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin residents get their first look later this week at a proposed railroad project long in the works.

The state's Department of Transportation and the Surface Transportation Board hold an open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Grant County International Airport, located at 7810 Andrews St. N.E., in Moses Lake.

The proposed Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project includes building a new line from Wheeler Road to Parker Horn, improving existing track between Parker Horn and the Grant County International Airport and extending the existing Columbia Basin Railroad's track to the industrial areas south and east of the airport.

The presentation about the route currently being studied is informal, and residents may share their thoughts by talking with project team members or by leaving written comments. A Spanish language interpreter will be in attendance.

"The changing of this rail line from its existing route to the airport to this route will enable a shorter route, which will mean a faster service for shippers," Department Deputy Director of Rail Andrew Wood, project manager, said. "It will be able to open up an area to economic activity which doesn't at the moment have rail access."

Port of Moses Lake Industrial Development Manager Albert Anderson said about half of the industrial property in the Moses Lake future growth area is around the airport.

"The timing for railroads right now is really good because with the higher cost of fuel, everybody is really starting to see railroad is making a big comeback," Anderson said. "The industries we're working with, especially the ones carrying heavy stuff long distances, need rail."

Wood believes it would be good for the roughly 20 land owners potentially impacted by the project to see it in its entirety, and not just its effect upon themselves. Land owners have been invited to attend, as have state and federal legislators. Wood also wants to show the general community in order to determine any impact by the project.

"Every aspect in one room at one time, it's a great opportunity for people to be able to come along and hear absolutely everything in one go," Wood said.

Following the open house, the department and board continue to work on the environmental assessment, done under the National Environmental Policy Act and the State Environmental Policy Act.

Another public hearing will take place when the draft environmental statement is completed, department Rail Environmental Manager Elizabeth Phinney said.

Anderson anticipates a permit from the surface transportation board at the end of 2008.

"The first thing that's going to happen out here is the field agents need to get out into the field, take samples, do their study, monitor and watch the wildlife, the fish, the plant species," he said.

Anderson expects the Parker Horn area will command the most effort on the agents' part, since it's probably the most environmentally sensitive.

One hundred people attending over the course of the open house would be the ideal, said Christa Dean, an attorney in the environmental analysis section of the transportation board.

Aerial maps showing the proposed route will be on display at the open house.

The project currently on display at the open house is not connected to the possible eventual abandonment of existing rail line through downtown Moses Lake at this time, Anderson and Wood said. The decision is up to the railroad owner and the transportation board, and not the port district, Anderson added.

The change could mean 19 at-grade railroad crossings — crossings where traffic goes over — could be replaced by four, Anderson said.

The existing line could be abandoned once the new rail is completed, and Anderson said there will be a separate process to study the abandonment at a future date.

"If only one person comes with concern, that'd be OK," Anderson said of Thursday's open house. "But I think we could have 100 people out there. You want people to feel free to ask any question. It's an open process. Their input really is important."

For more on the project, access the Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Rail/NorthernColumbiaBasinRR/.