Port of Moses Lake rail construction moving forward
Port of Moses Lake officials have completed right of way acquisition for a rail rehabilitation project that’s been a couple of decades in the making.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — The request for bids to build new rail line and rehabilitate other sections of the line to the Port of Moses Lake should go out to bid in early January. Port commissioners approved a $1.2 million agreement with Central Terminals for the right of way at the regular meeting Monday.
“Mark this day on your calendars, gentlemen,” said Milton Miller, port facilities director. “We now have access to all parcels associated with the right-of-way for the rail project.”
The new and refurbished rail line will extend from Wheeler Road Northeast near Road L Northeast out to the port, Miller said in an earlier interview. The new rail line will connect port property to the BNSF tracks in Connell.
“Finally,” said Commissioner Darrin Jackson.
Port officials have been working on the railroad project for about two decades, and a lot of the design and engineering work has already been completed.
“We’re shooting for engineering modifications to be done between Thanksgiving and Christmas and hopefully have it out for bid by the first of the calendar year,” Miller said.
Port officials have been working on rebuilding the rail service for more than two decades. Port officials have spent about two years acquiring rights of way along the route. There’s still some negotiating to be completed, Miller said, including with Central Terminals.
“This is just a possession and use agreement,” Miller said. “It’s not full ownership. Several of the parcels that we have these (agreements) with, we’ll have to go to mediation. We have one scheduled for the first week in December.”
Mediation will be the final step, Miller said.
“The $1.2 million was our offer, and they have an opportunity to counter that, which several property owners have done,” Miller said.
The possession and use agreements allow the port to proceed with the project while the final price is being determined, he said. The port is not buying entire parcels, just the right of way.
Construction, once it starts, should take about two years, Miller said.
Once the new rail line is complete, the existing line through Moses Lake will be taken out of service. Federal regulations require a new line to be in service before the old rail line can be abandoned.