On track for more trains

RATHDRUM — BNSF Railway won't start construction on a second set of tracks through Rathdrum in 2016 as planned, but has asked the city to start preparing for the project.

"We initially proposed going forward (with construction) in 2016, but that's been put on hold for at least a couple years," said BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas. "We will re-evaluate at that time and, if volumes dictate the need for investment, we'll proceed. But there are a number of drivers in these decisions.

"We're working with the city and have requested some prep work, but there's no official time on when the tracks will be built."

Melonas said 50 to 55 BNSF trains typically go through Rathdrum each day and at peak times as many as 60 roll through. The second set of tracks will be built parallel to BNSF's existing ones on the railroad's property.

Kevin Jump, Rathdrum's public works director, said BNSF recently asked the city to identify its water main crossings as the railroad will require the city to extend protective steel casing under the new set of rails.

"We have pot-holed four of the five locations and are compiling our information so that we can provide it to BNSF," Jump wrote in a memo to the city council. "BNSF has informed us that any water line casing extensions need to be completed by the end of 2015. We anticipate that there is at least one water main crossing that will need to be modified."

Jump said BNSF intends to make improvements along Highway 53 as part of the project, including turn lane extensions in both directions at Mill Street. Melonas said other possible other mitigation improvements — fencing, pedestrian underpasses and extending a pedestrian pathway near Mountainview Alternative High School, for example — will be proposed closer to the start of construction. Those projects will require state or city approval, depending on which jurisdiction they are in.

Jump said the city has requested that BNSF maintain the "quiet zone" through Rathdrum that was implemented a few years ago after the city spent $60,000 worth of safety improvements on Mill Street.

City officials said they've had a good relationship working with BNSF, which donated property for a fire station in Rathdrum several years ago, and have taken a neutral position on the second set of tracks because they'll be built on the railroad's property.

Jump said as of a month ago he was under the impression that BNSF planned to start construction on its second set of tracks in 2016.

"The timeframe for BNSF's second set of railways seems to change each quarter," Jump said. "It appears that there is some indecision on their project."

However, Melonas said BNSF recently decided to bump the construction timeline.

Local agencies first started meeting with BNSF about the project in November 2014.

Melonas said the second set of tracks should alleviate bottlenecks and congestion.

BNSF added more than 17 miles of additional track at identified bottleneck areas last year between Spokane and Pasco.

"Adding tracks allows us to be ready for future demand and ease congestion," Melonas said.