Project Activities
Upcoming
The project consists of two environmental documents prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. These documents include:
- Categorical Exclusion for Wyanet Connection
- CE for Wyanet Connection
- Environmental Assessment (EA) for Wyanet to Moline
As part of the EA for Wyanet to Moline, the team will:
- Identify improvements to grade crossings to allow for 79 mph passenger rail service
- Prepare preliminary engineering plans for the grade crossing improvements and present to the jurisdictional agencies for review
- Identify track, signal, and communications improvements needed to support the proposed service
- Prepare the EA document
- Develop preliminary engineering plans and capital cost estimates for the proposed improvements
- Develop operating and maintenance cost estimates for the proposed service
- Host a series of public meetings
- Evaluate the project for feasibility based on potential impacts to the environment, and capital, operating, and maintenance costs associated with implementing the proposed service
Accomplishments
- October 2011: First round of public meetings held
- November 2013: Eola Yard CE approved
- April 2013: Grade crossing evaluations
- May 2013: Existing conditions evaluations with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
- August 2017: Grade crossing inspections
- August 2017: Bridge inspection of Wyanet-Moline portion of the corridor
- September 2017: Track inspection of Wyanet-Moline portion of the corridor.
- December 2017: Construction at Eola Yard is complete
- December2017: Issued Environmental Commitment Compliance Record for BNSF Eola Yard improvements
- April 2018: Performed geotechnical exploration in the IAIS corridor
- Ongoing – preliminary engineering, environmental assessment, negotiations with IAIS railroad on construction and maintenance agreements
