Solutionary Rail is participating in the Community Advisory Committee process, providing feedback on the work being done by Jacobs (a giant engineering company) on behalf of Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This $5 million tax-payer funded transportation replacement study is assessing transportation alternatives to barges on the lower Snake River.

A few months ago, it looked as if our work would not be included in the scenarios being modeled by Jacobs. That changed this summer and we are grateful that the folks leading the process have decided to include key elements of our proposal for restoring rail connectivity from the wheat rich Palouse to Pasco.

We are thrilled to report that the Jacob/WSDOT is including important elements of Solutionary Rail's Rosalia to Pasco Shortline Rail Access Corridor proposal and other SR analysis in its modeling. We are grateful and committed to providing meaningful engagement in the process.

Check out our August 2025 comments and questions for the study authors here. We hope this engagement helps them further refine their study to make it as useful as possible.   

Though our analysis on transportation options is apparent in other aspects of the study, Scenario #6 specifically highlights our Rosalia to Pasco Shortline Access Corridor. (High resolution map here.)

Scenario 6, Shortline rail to barge: (Quoting from the WSDOT July 2025 Update, full text here)

1. Add a unit train terminal in the Lewiston/Clarkston area. (SR recommends appropriately sized rail facilities at LC, Wilma, Central Ferry and Lyons Ferry.)
2. Wallula: Add a direct connection between the rail line to Walla Walla and the Wallula barge terminal.
3. Columbia Plateau Trail: Reestablish the old rail line that runs from Washtucna to Pasco along what is currently the Columbia Plateau Trail. It is understood the trail is railbanked with the Washington State Parks and this is being confirmed.
4. Rosalia: Constructing a new rail line from Rosalia to Thornton allows connection between the Spokane, Spangle, & Palouse (SS&P) line (which runs from Pullman north to Spokane) and the Hooper line (which runs from Thornton to Washtucna)

Again, if you care about this issue, we highly recommend you read our August 2025 comments and questions for the study authors here.