Barker Road/BNSF grade separation project
Project description
The Barker Road/BNSF grade separation project will improve safety by replacing the existing at-grade BNSF Railway (BNSF) crossing on Barker with an overpass, constructing a roundabout at the Barker/Trent intersection, and closing the Flora/BNSF railway crossing.
When completed, the project will:
- improve emergency access,
- eliminate vehicle wait times averaging about 162 minutes per day at each of the two BNSF crossings,
- reduce overall traffic congestion and improve traffic flow,
- eliminate the need for trains to sound their horns, making adjacent neighborhoods quieter,
- improve access to the industrial area, and
- enhance the ability to develop almost 600 acres of industrial property and attract new businesses and jobs.
Design
One of six alternative designs considered, the selected alternative is cost-effective, ensures adequate infrastructure to accommodate future growth, improves safety, and helps promote economic development in the nearby industrial areas.
Economic benefits
This project enhances the develop-ability of almost 600 acres of commercial/industrial property. Full development of the area is expected to:
- lead to $2 billion in total economic output in the state ($980 million in direct impacts),
- support 9,800 new jobs in the state (3,300 direct job impacts),
- generate $12.3 million in new general fund taxes to the City of Spokane Valley (over 25 years), and
- create $50.8 million in new general fund taxes to Washington State (over 25 years).
Funding
With the announcement that $9 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants funding has been awarded to the project, funding to complete the project has been secured.
| Total Project Funding |
|
| Secured funding: |
|
| Federal earmark |
$ 720,000 |
| WA State FMSIB (20%) |
$ 3,800,000 |
| WA State legislative appropriation (must be expended by June 2019) |
$ 1,500,000 |
| National Highway Freight Program (NHFP - must be obligated by Sep 2020) |
$ 6,000,000 |
| BNSF contribution (estimated) |
$ 300,000 |
| TIGER Discretionary Grant* |
$ 9,020,149 |
| City funds budgeted |
$ 3,630,000
|
| TOTAL SECURED FUNDING |
$24,970,149
|
*The Barker/BNSF grade separation project is one of just 41 projects nationwide to have received 2018 TIGER funding, and is the only one in the state of Washington.
Schedule
Engineering design is anticipated to be completed by spring 2020 with the goal of having the project ready to construct in 2020-2021.
Grant information
TIGER IX Discretionary Grant application (FY 2017) - awarded $9,020,149
TIGER IX & INFRA support letters (2017)
FASTLANE II grant application - Barker/BNSF Project (FY 2017)
FASTLANE II support letters (2017)
FASTLANE I grant application - Barker/BNSF and Pines/BNSF projects (FY 2016)
FASTLANE I support letters (2016)
Roundabouts
Additional information
DOCUMENTS POSTED FOR SEPT. 10, 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
BROCHURES & EMAIL UPDATES
Barker Road/BNSF project flyer (pdf)
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