Port of Moses Lake awards $31.7 million rail contract

MOSES LAKE — After 20 years of planning a route, obtaining funding and getting rights-of-way, construction on the railway connection between the Port of Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin Railroad should start before the end of the year. 

"On or about 1 December is when I expect to break ground," said Anne Reese of Rock Project Management, Renton. "The contractor is hoping to mobilize prior to Thanksgiving, but worst case, it'll be right after Thanksgiving." 

Completion is projected for early spring 2028, she said.  

Port commissioners approved a $31.75 million contract with Martinus Rail LLC North America at the regular meeting Monday. 

"That may be the biggest single contract we've ever approved," said Commissioner Kent Jones.  

He was surprised, Jones said, that all six bids were relatively close to each other. 

"And so low," said Finance and Administration Director Kim Detrolio.  

"That's a good thing. I was pleasantly surprised," Jones said.  

It's the first phase of a multi-phase project. It's been a long time coming, said Facilities Director Milton Miller. 

"We've been working on this rail project for the last two decades," he said.  

Milton Miller said it's both rehabilitation and a new build. 

"It's going to be five miles of new track, roughly 1,000 feet off the Wheeler corridor, then rehabbing the line from (near Kinder Road Northeast) out to the airport," Miller said. "Once that line is complete, then we can abandon the line downtown." 

The new line will provide rail service from the port via the CBRR to its junction with the BNSF tracks at Connell. That connection will allow products from the port and along the rail line to be shipped nationwide. 

Miller said in earlier interviews that federal regulations prohibit abandoning the existing line until a new line is completed. That will eliminate the tracks that cross SR 17 and wind through town along the lakeshore, cross West Broadway Avenue and run in front of Montlake Park.  

The new line will require new rail crossings, including East Wheeler Road, and also includes upgrades to existing rail crossings, Miller said.  

The port received about $33 million from state and federal sources, but inflation raised the project cost. Port Executive Director Dan Roach said in an earlier interview that port officials were looking for ways to pay any remaining costs. They got some help from Senator Judy Warnick, who sponsored a bill to allow the port to increase its indebtedness level.  

With that authority, Detrolio said port officials are looking at funding opportunities, including the possible issuance of a construction bond. 

"Our bond team has gotten together several times starting in March, and we continue that process, hopefully in January, to be able to fund this next rail project," Detrolio said.

    Construction is scheduled to begin before the end of the year on the construction and rehabilitation of rail lines connecting the Port of Moses Lake to the outside world.