| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 11:03 am |
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Local News 
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Stanwood Amtrak platform to close a crossing STANWOOD — While the impending closure of the Logen Road railroad crossing may bother people who live north of town, those looking forward to using the new Amtrak passenger station can expect to board a train in Stanwood by the end of the month.A state Utilities and Transportation Commission administrative law judge recently ruled in favor of closing the Logen Road crossing, allowing work to proceed. People who live in the area have argued that the road is an emergency route around the city and an easy way for those who live along the road to get into Stanwood. The closure was sought by Burlington-Northern Santa Fe Railroad to make way for the extension of a siding track through the crossing, allowing Amtrak passenger trains to stop in Stanwood without hindering the railway company’s freight trains. Daily train traffic through Stanwood includes four Amtrak passenger trains and about 10 freight trains. Completion of the new Amtrak passenger platform at Stanwood is expected about Nov. 11, said state Department of Transportation rail project manager Kirk Fredrickson. “We are working to set an opening date for the new train station. We hope it’s soon after construction is complete,” Fredrickson said. “Logen Road would have been an issue (and delayed the opening) if the ruling had been to keep the crossing open.” The administrative law judge also ruled that Burlington-Northern Santa Fe and Snohomish County need to make road improvements at the 300th Street NW/Dettling Road railroad crossing and put in new signal lights at the 271st Street NW crossing. A couple of weeks remain for people to request a review with the Utilities and Transportation Commission. If no one objects, the judge’s decision becomes final Nov. 10. The crossing poses safety concerns for drivers, the state commission said. “The Logen Road crossing is as inherently dangerous as any other grade crossing and, due to its location along a curve in the tracks, perhaps even more hazardous,” said Adam Torem, administrative law judge at Utilities and Transportation. “Adding the siding tracks will magnify the potential dangers by obstructing motorists’ vision as they approach the crossing and also cause confusion on the regular occasions where a train blocks the crossing for appreciable lengths of time.” The eagerly anticipated $5 million train passenger platform project got the OK from the state Legislature in 2006. The completion date has been moved ahead numerous times, mostly because of problems with the station design, negotiations over the use of the railroad tracks and the discovery that the construction site was contaminated by lead. The 600-foot-long train-passenger platform includes ramps, railings, shelters, seating, lighting and landscaping. Amtrak Cascades trains connect Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., including scheduled stops in Edmonds, Everett, Mount Vernon and Bellingham. Stanwood passengers will buy their tickets online or over the phone and then board the train with their reservation information in hand. Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. How to comment To contact the state Utilities and Transportation Commission, call 360-664-1160 and refer to case number TR-090121. |
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