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Home My WebLink About2015, 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 : ^ ®: /� r ;,Project Site ��'I� � � r3 - .. tS i Viiey ,u .Industrial Zone' • i ui and for Potentia ; m .� _ � Developme - dustrial _ - — cn .= 0 :' Business Park t T—= ;ate t .� - f c ' ' l . _- - 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 a k. Prime Developable Prime Developable -- --2.— P n `fixed-Use Property -e [�'ICtTY®�i— — e ?viized-Use Properr} 10p 41,0 Valley y v Prune Developable Mixed-Use Property ,. FUNDING REQUEST: ,_ 4 $17.2 Million crr�. .. , • . 41.10t, DESIGN AND s- c ; . ,„.`,, 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 ti }It40n sw` , , 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 ..,. 4i of Ecology projects oil train numbers to exceed 100 unit trains per .- ----*! '' s” day within the next 10 years. 4 — • # 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. 1____,_.it _ , `F. I,y ., e -- - !! -,... _ t , ,._ .tom