32nd Street rail crossing project is on track

Work is progressing steadily on one of Clark County’s most prominent transportation infrastructure projects.

The city of Washougal’s 32nd Street rail crossing project is on track to finish design work by the end of this year and begin construction in the first half of 2027, Washougal Public Works Director Trevor Evers said.

The project will eliminate a hazardous rail crossing and introduce multimodal enhancements that support long-term growth, safety and regional freight mobility, according to the city’s website.

“Depending on the time of year, we’ll have anywhere from 40 to 45 closures a day at that crossing, so being able to eliminate that conflict in perpetuity is a huge win for us as not only a community, but for the region,” Evers said.

The city is working with BNSF Railway, the Federal Railway Administration and a progressive design-build team.

“Overall, it’s gone relatively smoothly,” Evers said. “We’re positioned well to be able to continue to check the boxes and deliver the project. This is a legacy project, not only in Washougal, but for the whole region.”

The city will receive a $2 million allocation for the project as a result of federal appropriations legislation recently passed by Congress.

The project received a $40.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program in 2023. In all, the city has received roughly $70 million for the project, Washougal Community Services and Strategy Director Joe Walsh said. The total cost for the project has yet to be determined.

“We’ve got a whole list of potential funding sources that we’re chasing or in various stages of chasing, with the ultimate goal of reducing the amount of debt that our residents will have to take on, hopefully getting that way down close to zero, if possible,” Walsh said. “But at the end of the day, we’re full steam ahead on this project, so we’re going to deliver it no matter what.”

The project will include a new railroad bridge and underpass structure between Main Street/B Street and Evergreen Way along the crossing, as well as new roundabouts, intersection improvements, improved pedestrian and bike facilities, and roadside stormwater management, according to the city’s website.