Possible alternative rail route for Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Two governmental entities provide a briefing to area officials regarding a proposed railroad project next week.

The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Surface Transportation Board are conducting an environmental review for the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project in Moses Lake.

A department representative is scheduled to brief members of the Port of Moses Lake and the Moses Lake City Council Tuesday.

The purpose of the briefings is to present the analysis and findings related to a citizen-proposed alternative for the proposed rail construction project.

More than 80 people attended a public open house at the airport in July, and 31 people provided written comments. More than half requested a new alternative be considered, the department stated.

In response, the board and the department conducted an analysis of a new alternative, known as the Northern Route.

The Northern Route would replace the eastern segment of the proposed project, the department stated, and eliminate a proposed line south of Wheeler Road, specifically to avoid impacting property near Wheeler Road and to avoid several at-grade crossings in the area.

A complete briefing on the analysis and findings will be presented at the meetings.

The briefing before the port district is at Grant County International Airport at 3:30 p.m., and the city council briefing is at 7 p.m. at 321 Balsam St.

Both meetings are open to the public.