2015, 08-17 Special Meeting AGENDA
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING STUDY SESSION
Monday, August 17, 2015
8:30 a.m.
Spokane Valley Council Chambers
11707 E. Sprague Avenue
Spokane Valley, Washington 99206
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
WELCOME: Mayor Grafos
INTRODUCTIONS:
DISCUSSIONS:
8:30 a.m. - John Culton, Eastern Washington Director for US Senator Patty
Murray
Johan Hellman, Executive Director of State Government
Affairs, Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad Company,
Pacific Northwest
9:00 a.m. - John Culton, Eastern Washington Director for US Senator Patty
Murray
Evan Schatz, Staff Director at Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions to discuss federal prioritized
projects
• The Barker Road Grade Separation— TIGER VII
• Other Grade Separation Projects
• Transportation Funding
MISCELLANEOUS
Adjourn
Note: Unless indicated above, there will be no public comments. During meetings held by the City of Spokane Valley
Council, the Council reserves the right to take "action" on any item listed or subsequently added to the agenda. The term
"action"means to deliberate,discuss,review,consider,evaluate,or make a collective positive or negative decision.
Agenda: Special Meeting August 17,2015
BARKER ROAD GRADE SEPARATION - SPOKANE VALLEY, WA
"A Bridging the Valley" Project
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Background:
Bridging the Valley is a proposal to separate vehicle traffic from train traffic '
FUNDING REQUEST: in the 42 mile corridor between Spokane,WA and Athol, ID. This study
outlined the need for a grade separation at this location as well as others
$21 Million along the corridor.
DESIGN AND The separation of railroad and roadway grades in this corridor is intended to
promote future economic growth,traffic movement,traffic safety,and train
CONSTRUCTION whistle noise abatement. Barker Road is one of the primary freight routes
from State Route 290(Trent)to Interstate 90 for trucks traveling to and from
north Idaho and Canada.
Total Project Cost: $29.2 Million
Projected Impacts ♦ Design&ROW Phase:$3.6 Million
0 30%Design completed, Federally Funded
Total economic output in $2 •Billion Construction Phase:$25.6 Million
the state: 0 Environmental clearance received for this project
New jobs in the state: 9,800 Committed Funds: $8.2 Million
New general fund taxes to
$12.3 • Washington State FMSIB—$5.84 Million
the City: Million • City of Spokane Valley—$1.294 Million
• 2009 Earmark—$720,000
New general fund taxes to $40.4
Million • BNSF—$346,000
Washington State: Project Benefits:
Industrial acres opened for 500 • Improve public safety by reducing rail/vehicle collisions
development in Spokane ♦ Enhance development opportunities with a single rail corridor and
Valley: Improve access
• Improve emergency access to residents and businesses
*ECONorthwest ♦ Eliminate waiting time for vehicles at the rail crossing
• Reduce noise levels—no more train whistles near the crossing
• Improve traffic flow due to a separated grade crossing
BARKER ROAD GRADE SEPARATION - SPOKANE VALLEY, WA
"A Bridging the Valley" Project
PROJECT SUPPORT
r i _ COM Barker Properties LLC
+� 4 BNSF Railway
'� l Freight Mobility Strategic Investment
_- Board
Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of
Commerce
IEDS Logistics
Why Now? Kestell Company, Property Owner
The current intersection has a Level of Service(LOS) of'F'due to Kiemle & Hagood Company
current vehicle traffic,design, and train volumes. The failing LOS has
severely limited development and growth in this important industrial
zoned area. City of Liberty Lake
Currently 5100 vehicles and up to 50 trains per day cross this Spokane County Commissioners
intersection,19 of which are unit oil trains. WA State Department of
Ecology projects oil train numbers to exceed 100 unit trains per day Spokane County Engineers
within the next 10 years.
This project benefits multiple jurisdictions including Spokane Valley, Spokane Regional Transportation
Spokane County and the Washington State Department of Council
Transportation. Spokane Valley Fire Department
The return on investment with the project is significant. Greater
Spokane Inc.,our Economic Development Council is constantly Spokane Valley Police Department
having to turn businesses away from this area due to lack of
infrastructure. Village Square Realty, Inc., Property
The City of Spokane Valley has been following the potential issues Owner
and concerns raised by the proposed train traffic increase on coal
trains along the BNSF mainline,which bisects our City. In particular, Ray Villanueva, Property Owner
the City is concerned about the potential impacts on the SR290/
Barker Rd intersection and railroad crossing. Senator Mike Padden
The proposed grade separation is a mutually beneficial project for
the City,the State and BNSF. The project helps address several areas Washington State Department of
of concerns, helps improve the efficiency of the rail movements Transportation
along the corridor,and addresses environmental,safety and Washington Trucking Associations
congestion related issues impacting the City's street network.
Development of the surrounding industrial zone may have additional
benefit to BNSF by attracting companies dependent upon rail for
shipping to relocate or develop.
PINES ROAD GRADE SEPARATION - SPOKANE VALLEY, WA
"A Bridging the Valley" Project
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Prune Developable
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FUNDING REQUEST: ,_ 4
$17.2 Million crr�. .. ,
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DESIGN AND s-
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CONSTRUCTION
Background:
Bridging the Valley is a proposal to separate vehicle traffic from train
PROJECT LOCATION: traffic in the 42 mile corridor between Spokane,WA and Athol, ID.
This study outlined the need for a grade separation at this location
Pines Road (SR 27) is a north-south as well as others along the corridor.
principal arterial and state highway in
Spokane Valley. It crosses the The separation of railroad and roadway grades in this corridor is in-
Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline tended to promote future economic growth,traffic movement,traffic
near Trent Ave (SR 290). Pines Road safety, and train whistle noise abatement. Barker Road is one of the
currently carries 16,300 vehicles per day. primary freight routes from State Route 290(Trent)to Interstate 90
The BNSF line carries approximately 50
for trucks traveling to and from north Idaho and Canada.
trains per day. Pines Road is currently
protected by standard railroad gates and Total Project Cost: 17.2 Million
signals. • Design & ROW Phase
0 30% Design completed, Federally Funded
• Construction Phase
0 Environmental clearance received for this project
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Project Benefits:
This project will reconstruct Pines Road • Improve public safety by reducing rail/vehicle collisions
to pass under four BNSF tracks. Trent • Enhance development opportunities with a single rail corridor
Avenue will be lowered and the City will and Improve access
petition to close the University Road • Improve emergency access to residents and businesses
railroad crossing one mile to the west,
which would further improve public • Eliminate waiting time for vehicles at the rail crossing
safety by reducing the possibility of rail/ • Reduce noise levels—no more train whistles near the crossing
vehicle collisions at this intersection • Improve traffic flow due to a separated grade crossing
• Enhance development opportunities with a single rail corridor
PINES ROAD GRADE SEPARATION - SPOKANE VALLEY, WA
"A Bridging the Valley" Project
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Why Now? . !r
The existing intersection has a projected Level of Service(LOS) of`F ii i =
in future years due to high traffic volumes. Vehicular traffic is pro- N1, , w *
jected to increase over the next 30 years and because of it's loca- '
tion,which is approximately half way between the two nearest ,.'. °. ., , •• =�"'
crossings of the BNSF tracks. The Pines Road and the BNSF tracks • ---
will provide a vital transportation link to the businesses and resi- ri' „w ='•.
dences north of the BNSF tracks and 1-90. orlsovy .� , a ,
Currently 16,300 vehicles and up to 50 trains per day cross this a+ ''` `' '�
intersection, 19 of which are unit oil trains. WA State Departmentiir „,?, : ` ! r. . ...K ..,.
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of Ecology projects oil train numbers to exceed 100 unit trains per .- ----*! '' s”
day within the next 10 years. 4 —
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The City of Spokane Valley has been following the potential issues ,,` x . ii PEW RR TRACK
and concerns raised by the proposed train traffic increase on coal =— *• I PINES ROAD uNOERa55
trains along the BNSF mainline,which bisects our City. In particular, r
the City is concerned about the potential impacts on the SR290/ 1
Barker Rd intersection and railroad crossing. j
The proposed grade separation is a mutually beneficial project for
the City,the State and BNSF. The project helps address several are-
as of concerns, helps improve the efficiency of the rail movements
along the corridor,and addresses environmental,safety and
congestion related issues impacting the City's street network.
Development of the surrounding industrial zone may have addition-
al benefit to BNSF by attracting companies dependent upon rail for
shipping to relocate or develop.
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