Chief
06-05-2008, 05:51 AM
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06042008_Trains-begin-using-new-track-at-Sixth-Street.cfm
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
By JONATHAN NELSON and LAURA McVicker, Columbian staff writers
The Port of Vancouver achieved an early milestone in its effort to improve rail access this week when the first trains to service Albina Asphalt and Lafarge Concrete accessed a new crossover track on Sixth Street.
The achievement means that the former spur line that travels through the former Boise Cascade mill site can be removed, clearing the way for redevelopment of the 33 acres to a new mixed use urban neighborhood.
Crews are working to connect the line serving Albina and Lafarge to the main BNSF Railway line. This phase of rail work is expected to be finished in 2009.
Replacing the spur line is one part of a larger, $56 million project designed to allow trains bound for the Port of Vancouver to bypass BNSF’s north-south line, clearing a major bottleneck for West Coast rail traffic.
The port also plans to improve rail lines within its boundaries, which will increase train capacity for port tenants.
The rail work is also integral to the success of the Washington Department of Transportation’s $110 million Vancouver Bypass project that will allow passenger trains to skirt the freight lines. It will also see a new vehicle and pedestrian bridge at West 39th Street.
A pile driver used as part of the rail project is expected to continue doing its work for about another month, causing some frustration for downtown Vancouver tenants though less than other constant noise disruptions.
Larry Holden, a property manager for the condominium development Vancouvercenter, said the pile driver’s clanging only bothers his work when he steps outside with a client or another business person. Then, they can’t hear. He hasn’t received any complaints from residents, though, besides a few mentions of the noise.
“There’s been comments about it, but the noise usually stops when they arrive home,” Holden said.
Some downtown residents say the constant clanging doesn’t compare to the incessant horn-blowing from trains in the early morning hours. Byron Whipple, a three-year Vancouvercenter resident, said while he’s noticed the banging during the day, it usually only lasts a couple hours at a time. And it isn’t as overwhelming as the freight trains.
“Those whistles are insane,” Whipple said. “I was shocked when I first moved in.”
Other residents say the construction noise is distant and can be avoided. It’s easy for Vancouvercenter resident Lety Klee to ignore.
“It’s OK because I know it’s temporary,” Klee said. “It hasn’t bothered me when you close your doors.”
The noise will only get worse down there as the Port of Vancouver nearly doubles the volume of rail cars in and out of the Port over the next few years.
Good news that the rail access project is proceeding so smoothly, and that they have met a major milestone like this one. There is still lots of work to do down there as the pile-driving demonstrates, but work is undersay and ongoing at a very brisk pace...
Developing...
mrgrn
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
By JONATHAN NELSON and LAURA McVicker, Columbian staff writers
The Port of Vancouver achieved an early milestone in its effort to improve rail access this week when the first trains to service Albina Asphalt and Lafarge Concrete accessed a new crossover track on Sixth Street.
The achievement means that the former spur line that travels through the former Boise Cascade mill site can be removed, clearing the way for redevelopment of the 33 acres to a new mixed use urban neighborhood.
Crews are working to connect the line serving Albina and Lafarge to the main BNSF Railway line. This phase of rail work is expected to be finished in 2009.
Replacing the spur line is one part of a larger, $56 million project designed to allow trains bound for the Port of Vancouver to bypass BNSF’s north-south line, clearing a major bottleneck for West Coast rail traffic.
The port also plans to improve rail lines within its boundaries, which will increase train capacity for port tenants.
The rail work is also integral to the success of the Washington Department of Transportation’s $110 million Vancouver Bypass project that will allow passenger trains to skirt the freight lines. It will also see a new vehicle and pedestrian bridge at West 39th Street.
A pile driver used as part of the rail project is expected to continue doing its work for about another month, causing some frustration for downtown Vancouver tenants though less than other constant noise disruptions.
Larry Holden, a property manager for the condominium development Vancouvercenter, said the pile driver’s clanging only bothers his work when he steps outside with a client or another business person. Then, they can’t hear. He hasn’t received any complaints from residents, though, besides a few mentions of the noise.
“There’s been comments about it, but the noise usually stops when they arrive home,” Holden said.
Some downtown residents say the constant clanging doesn’t compare to the incessant horn-blowing from trains in the early morning hours. Byron Whipple, a three-year Vancouvercenter resident, said while he’s noticed the banging during the day, it usually only lasts a couple hours at a time. And it isn’t as overwhelming as the freight trains.
“Those whistles are insane,” Whipple said. “I was shocked when I first moved in.”
Other residents say the construction noise is distant and can be avoided. It’s easy for Vancouvercenter resident Lety Klee to ignore.
“It’s OK because I know it’s temporary,” Klee said. “It hasn’t bothered me when you close your doors.”
The noise will only get worse down there as the Port of Vancouver nearly doubles the volume of rail cars in and out of the Port over the next few years.
Good news that the rail access project is proceeding so smoothly, and that they have met a major milestone like this one. There is still lots of work to do down there as the pile-driving demonstrates, but work is undersay and ongoing at a very brisk pace...
Developing...
mrgrn