Port of Moses Lake

SEGMENT 2 – FACT SHEET

OVERVIEW

This Segment includes approximately three miles of new rail to access industrial lands adjacent to the GCIA (known as the GCIA Employment Center). This Segment will extend the rail line from the existing track (Segment 3) to serve over 1,200 acres of industrial zoned lands at the GCIA Employment Center on the east side of the GCIA.
Necessity is supported by studies prepared for the 2014 GCIA Master Plan;
Constructs five, at-grade rail crossings;
Adds opportunities for new intermodal linkages between air cargo and rail within the Port’s Free Trade Zone;
The Port/GCIA industrial area is highly desirable for industrial development due to the amount of available land, easy access to Highway 17 and Interstate 90, and low electrical power rates;
The GCIA Employment Center is projected to create 13,000 to 19,000 new jobs.

Estimated Schedule/Timeline for Segment 2

2017 – Alignment reviewed due to infrastructure upgrades from surrounding industrial development that occurred since project initiation.
2018 – Two alternative modifications to the 2009 approved alignment submitted to the STB and FRA for review in the Supplemental EA.
2019 – The STB is expected to issue a record of decision in Fall of 2019. Upon that decision, FRA will obligate the Project’s federal funds and property acquisition will commence. Final design and permitting will begin at that time.
2020 – Property acquisition will be completed, permits received and bid documents prepared.
2021-2022 – Contractor will be selected. Construction is anticipated to begin in Fall 2021 with completion scheduled for Fall 2022.

Current Status of Segment 2

In Fall 2018, the Port requested that STB analyze two modifications to the 2009 approved Segment 2 alignment (Modification 2B and 2C) to straighten the route and reduce conflicts with the built environment constructed. The modifications proposed by the Port include:

A straighter alignment immediately northeast of the connection with the unused CBRW track. This modification would slightly reduce the amount of new track construction
A shorter, straighter alignment to more efficiently access existing and future development areas, as well as reduce the necessary track construction
An alignment that reduces conflicts with entrances to businesses and utilities, and reduces the number of skewed rail crossings.

NCBRP Latest Update: November, 2018

[contact-form-7 id=”841″]