Aberdeen requesting $50 million in state transportation budget funds for rail separation project

As if on cue, a train rumbled eastbound through east Aberdeen Tuesday morning as 19th District Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, was in town to get updated on the east Aberdeen rail separation project.

“It’s critical to get this done,” said Wilson of the project, which would incorporate a large roundabout and an overpass on Highway 12 to separate vehicle and train traffic.

Wilson stood at the corner of the highway and South Newell Street, where the roundabout would be placed. The overpass would be just east of there, at Chehalis Street, funneling traffic over the highway and train tracks into the parking area on the east end of Walmart.

Among the group Tuesday morning was Aberdeen Mayor Pete Schave, who said, “This project is critical to our community in so many ways. Not only will it support public safety and better mobility for people and goods, it will enhance future economic opportunities for the Port of Grays Harbor and surrounding businesses. We are thrilled to have legislative support from the 19th and 24th district legislators and are very appreciative of Sen. Wilson visiting the site of the project today.”

Trains coming to and from the Port of Grays Harbor can at times completely block access to the Walmart and other businesses between there, the Tractor Supply, and the Log Pavilion, to the east for extended periods of time. This creates traffic backups that can stretch well into downtown Aberdeen, and block emergency vehicle access.

“The train comes in peace, but does cause harm inadvertently,” said Wilson, who stressed he understood the importance of the project in terms of public safety and economically. “Now it’s time we got Olympia to understand.”

Aberdeen City Engineer Kris Koski said about 28,000 rail cars bound for the Port of Grays Harbor come through the area annually, and the current traffic flow frequently puts vehicles and trains in conflict, and creates accessibility problems for the residents who live to the north. About 28,000 local residents, freight trucks and tourists travel through the area each day.

Koski said that businesses in the area contribute about $161 million in sales each year, 74% of the county’s retail sales, and about 1,000 people are employed at the businesses in the about 1/3-mile project area.

The cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam are requesting $50.36 million from the Legislature this year, out of the total cost of $51,760,000. According to the city’s transportation budget request, this would complete the funding package to complete all phases and construct the project. The amount would augment $1,400,000 in existing funding from the State 2020 Supplemental Transportation Budget ($700,000), City of Aberdeen funds ($200,000), Port of Grays Harbor funds ($200,000), and Grays Harbor County funds ($300,000) currently being used to begin the preliminary engineering phase of the project and environmental permitting.

A timeline provided by Koski Tuesday has the preliminary engineering and right of way components of the project continuing through the third quarter of 2025, with a goal to begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The City of Aberdeen has partnered with the state Department of Transportation for the project, and its project engineer, Karen Boone, was present Tuesday morning. Also there were Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay, and Port Commissioner Tom Quigg.

There are two transporation budget proposals currently in the Legislature, and competition for funding is fierce. Wilson said the rail separation project “is one of my priority projects.” The cities of Hoquiam and Aberdeen separately hired a lobbying firm this year to aggressively pursue funding for this project, and the North Shore Levee, and that firm’s senior government affairs consultant Marian Dacca was there Tuesday to see the project area first-hand.

DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD A train crosses South Newell Street in east Aberdeen Tuesday morning. From left, Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay, Aberdeen City Engineer Kris Koski, and Sen. Jeff Wilson, talk about the east Aberdeen rail separation project.

photos by DAN HAMMOCK / THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen City Engineer Kris Koski, left, and Sen. Jeff Wilson watch a train cross South Newell Street in east Aberdeen Tuesday morning. Wilson was in town to get an update on the east Aberdeen rail separation project.

Aberdeen Mayor Pete Schave, left, and Sen. Jeff Wilson stand at the corner of South Newell Street and Highway 12 in east Aberdeen Tuesday morning, discussing the east Aberdeen rail separation project.

COURTESY CITY OF ABERDEEN The latest rendering of the east Aberdeen rail separation project, with a roundabout at South Newell and overpass at Chehalis Street, designed to lessen conflicts between vehicle and rail traffic.