Columbia Basin Rail expansion route could change

MOSES LAKE - A proposed expansion of the Columbia Basin

Railroad's line to businesses at the Port of Moses Lake may change

to bring instead more rail to the Wheeler Road industrial area.

The state allocated $2 million in 2009 to start the rail

expansion near the port.

MOSES LAKE - A proposed expansion of the Columbia Basin Railroad's line to businesses at the Port of Moses Lake may change to bring instead more rail to the Wheeler Road industrial area.

The state allocated $2 million in 2009 to start the rail expansion near the port.

But the deteriorating railroad tracks through Moses Lake to the port and declining rail shipments pose problems for some.

It resulted in Columbia Basin Railroad and some Wheeler Road businessmen wanting the expansion to start at Wheeler Road.

Port of Moses Lake commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday the money should be used for another part of the project during the state's next budget cycle.

Commission President Kent Jones urged audience members to call contact legislators telling them what they want.

It's because people on both sides of the issue, the railroad's government affairs director, Pat Boss, and Craig Baldwin, the port's manager, each say they're hearing different takes from legislators.

Both Baldwin and Boss recently met with legislators in Olympia to discuss the issue.

Boss says there is a possibility the money could be used for another portion of the project.

"I'm hearing if we have a unanimous consensus, they'll go to bat for us," Boss said.

Baldwin said otherwise: the money must be used for its intended purpose.

"We were fully instructed by all of the chairs in the legislature that the project was the project, period," Baldwin said.

Daniel Lewis, of the state Department of Transportation (DOT), said the DOT was told the funds could only be used to expand rail at the port.

On Tuesday, about 30 people attended the port commission meeting to reach an agreement about the expansion's future.

The group included business owners, Moses Lake City Council members, Columbia Basin Railroad President/CEO Brig Temple and representatives from the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce and Grant County Economic Development Council.

Port commissioner Jones said the push to bring more rail to the port started about 2003.

At the time, the state had money in its coffers and was willing to help Boeing with its 787 Dreamliner project.

Today Jones said if Grant County leaders don't come up with a plan for the funds, the state will pull the money.

Temple, of Columbia Basin Railroad, said a requirement to expand rail at the port was the port agreeing to keep the line open for 15 years.

Lewis, of DOT, agreed.

The railroad has kept the line open through Moses Lake for 23 years, but the line isn't operable now, Temple said.

It would cost the railroad an estimated $6 million to $7 million to make the line operable.

"We have facilitated Boeing being able to come out here and bid, General Dynamics being able to come out here and bid and SGL being able to come out here and bid," Temple said. "We cannot afford to maintain a railroad at no cost for the next 15 years."

While the addition of SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers' plant was "a huge win for the Moses Lake community," they are not a rail shipper because of the product amounts they're dealing with, he said.

They will bring in 6,000 tons of rayon and ship out 3,000 tons of finished product, he explained.

Bob Fancher, of Maiers Development Corporation, said the issue comes down to finances.

To build a railroad that cannot be served makes no financial sense, he pointed out.

Most people here don't want rail running downtown, he said.

The Temples will bring money to the table if it makes financial sense, Fancher said.

Moses Lake Mayor Jon Lane said the city's priority is to remove rail from the city because it is not viable.

It is also dangerous to have rail cars traveling through town.

The city supports what the port is doing, as it wants to speak with one voice, Lane said.

Bill Ecret, of Vision 2020 and a city councilmember, said the group still wants to move the tracks out of town.

"We feel if you build Segment 2 first, it would force the refurbishment of Segment 4 through town," Ecret said.