Ephrata seeks grant to design new rail overpass, north–south arterial

EPHRATA — The City of Ephrata is moving forward with a major freight infrastructure proposal, asking the City Council to authorize a Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board grant application that would fund preliminary engineering for a new railroad overpass and north–south arterial connecting SR‑28 to the Port of Ephrata. 

The council unanimously passed Resolution 26‑015 at the March 4 regular council meeting, which allows staff to submit a nearly $303,000 grant request. The city and the Port of Ephrata would each contribute an about $24,000 match, bringing the total planning budget to $350,000, according to the council packet. 

City Engineer Shawn O’Brien said the project is aimed at solving long‑standing freight access problems on the north side of town.  

“With the freight of the port of Ephrata out at our airport, there isn’t a great infrastructure of roads getting from the port property to Highway 28,” he said. “There isn’t a good north–south route through there to get big freight in and out.” 

The project would design four major components: an Enterprise Street extension, a Third Avenue Northeast extension, a Railroad Street extension and a new Enterprise Street overpass. The city plans to complete road design work in late 2027 and early 2028, with bridge design following in 2028. 

O’Brien said the city is also waiting on a separate almost $50,000 QUADCO regional transportation grant to determine the best location and cost for a future railroad crossing.  

“We’re playing the waiting game,” he said. “That’s really the one that needs to start, because that would hopefully locate and also determine the type of crossing.” 

The FMSIB grant would build on that work by funding full preliminary engineering for the overpass and arterial. 

Port of Ephrata Executive Director David Lanman said the project would improve truck access to the port’s rail warehouse complex and open land for development. 

“This project… would enable a roadway to be constructed directly from the throughway to the rail warehouse complex, thus giving the trucks more direct and better access to that facility,” Lanman said. “By virtue of having that, it increases the value of the properties that are directly involved.” 

Lanman said the improved access could support future intermodal freight operations.  

“It would bring us throughway from Third Avenue all the way down to connect up with Enterprise and connect with 282, thus providing a bypass so that trucks and transit traffic is not always having to go down Basin,” he said. 

He said better road access could help the port attract new industry.  

“Property is sitting down in the middle of nowhere. If it’s right along a roadway and accessible, that property now becomes a much better candidate for development.” 

According to the council packet, the project aligns with the city’s Transportation Improvement Program and Comprehensive Plan, which identify a new railroad crossing and north-south arterial as mid‑term priorities. The city notes that an overpass would also relieve congestion at existing at‑grade crossings on Division and Nat Washington Way, especially for school buses. 

O’Brien said the project is still in early stages but could support significant economic activity if the port’s industrial recruitment efforts continue.  

“There’s a lot of very optimistic opportunities ahead with the port providing some opportunities out there,” he said. 

If the grant is approved, the city would budget its match in 2027 and begin engineering work the same year.