Washington to receive up to $13.8M for rail improvements

The state of Washington will receive up to $13.8 million to make rail upgrades and safety improvements.

The funding is part of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program.

The investment also aims to help goods move more reliably though the supply chain to get people the things they need quicker at a lower cost.

The grant will go toward two projects.

One of the projects will improve the mudslide zone between Everett and Seattle. Slides during the winter months routinely cancel Sounder passenger rail service and freight trains.

Walls will be built in three locations to reduce slide debris on the train tracks.

Part of the $3.8 million granted for the project will also go to improving the existing slide fence alert system that notifies dispatchers and train crews about debris on the tracks, and improving drainage along the tracks.

The Washington State Department of Transportation and BNSF Railway will provide a 50% match to the federal grant.

A second project in the Pacific Northwest high-speed rail corridor between Tacoma, Lakewood and DuPont will receive up to $10 million.

The money will be used for track and signal improvements that will increase passenger and freight rail capacity, including double tracks and other improvements.

The project is along a 12-mile corridor in Pierce County. The three segments to be double-tracked are TR Junction to Portland Avenue, South 66th Street Bridge to Pine Street, and Lakewood to DuPont.

Officials said they envision the improvements will allow for more daily Amtrak Cascades trains by 2040, fewer delays of Sounder trains, and improved reliability for freight and passenger trains.

Sound Transit will provide a 50% match to the grant.

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