Port of Whitman commissioners will consider a new draft at their next meeting Oct. 5 of a letter to encourage support of proposed work at the intersection of U.S Highway 195 and State Route 26 at Colfax.
The letter, which is to be sent to the federal Department of Transportation, will likely also advocate for a rail project near Endicott.
Debbie Snell, Port of Whitman properties and development manager, shared a draft letter with commissioners Sept. 21 on the Colfax matter, which is referred to as U.S. Highway 195 and State Route 26 Intersection Modernization Project.
Varying options have been discussed about how to improve the intersection.
“Going from two spans to one span – that’s going to be problematic,” said Commissioner Tom Kammerzell about one of them, noting truck traffic and WSU events weekends.
“No one’s happy with any of the alternatives,” said Joe Poire, the Port’s executive director, clarifying that the question is, ‘do we want to proceed with support of the project in general,’ not any specific option.
Kammerzell asked if the letter for this would bump the “railroad ladder,” a project that the Port has previously supported on the Palouse-Coulee City Rail that would split 110-car trains into two sections on two tracks near Endicott.
Kara Riebold, the Port’s chief operating officer, noted it was common to send letters of support for concurring projects.
Port Commissioner Kristine Meyer asked if they could add into the draft a part saying the Port is in support of both projects.
Snell said she could.
At present, a Transportation Improvement Grant for Economic Recovery is being submitted again by the Washington state Department of Transportation for 195/26 work.
The grant application for the similar project failed to qualify last year.
Colfax City Administrator Dodd Snodgrass reported to the Colfax City Council Sept. 18 that the state would try again for a TIGER grant for the Colfax project.
The state application will again seek $6 million in TIGER funding to combine with $2 million in state highway funds.
Kammerzell also serves on the Palouse-Coulee City Rail board.
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