Palouse track replacement in state bill

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Jul 22, 20150

The transportation package approved by the Washington state legislature July 10 included $280,000 for a project in Palouse.

The long-sought funding will be used for replacing railroad tracks which are on Whitman Street from Bridge Street to Mill Street.

The city replaced a stretch of tracks east of Whitman Street in 2008 as Part I of what would be a two-phased project. The original work was funded by a $210,000 capital budget line item.

The 2008 rail-replacement coincided with sidewalks and other street improvements engineered by Munir Daud.

“It was like a subset of our work,” said Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove.

Last year, the town of Palouse submitted an application to the state Transportation Improvement Board grant program and lost out. The project was not chosen, while the feedback from T.I.B. noted that they would like the town to secure funding for the railroad replacement first.

Then, two weeks ago the transportation package was passed and the rail funding was secured.

“When the gavel hit, it was a done deal with the legislature, we were on the list,” said Echanove.

At the city council meeting July 14, state Sen. Mark Schoessler and Rep. Joe Schmick joined over speakerphone. Schoessler called in on a cell phone while farming in his field.

Echanove thanked the two representatives for their work on behalf of the transportation package.

“There’s billion dollar projects in there, there’s multi-million dollar projects too,” Echanove told the Gazette. “That’s a win for all the little towns.”

Now that the state funding is in hand for the Palouse tracks, the city will re-apply to T.I.B. for this fall’s round of funding – for the street work. Projects are announced the week before Thanksgiving.

In total, slated for the rail and street/sidewalk work, the town has a previously committed $20,000 from the city, $30,000 from WSDOT and now $280,000 from the state transportation package. The remaining $360,000 would come from T.I.B.

“I’m always optimistic,” Echanove said.

The project would replace the 550 feet of track in the line. Improved drainage and rubber matting will be included. The tracks, which link Palouse to Potlatch, were originally laid down in 1907.

While the street work could be done separately it significantly increases the cost compared to doing them at the same time as the track work.

“It’s a waste of money to work on the street unless you work on the tracks too,” Echanove said.

One of the main users of the track is Bennett Lumber of Potlatch.