Devil's Lake rebuild -- new grant -- ???

[Phil S]

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/mow/news/USDOT-obligates-TIGER-III-grant-for-rail-line-upgrade-in-North-Dakota--35775

I thought all this was already underway and due to be finished by this summer. Anybody know how this grant differs from the previous ones? Or just generally -- what's the status of the rebuilding?

FWIW (very little) I'm due to go CHI/PDX leaving May 9. Looking forward to it as it's been a year since my last #27 trip. Hopefully, the Seattle/Everett area will have dried out a little by then.

 

[afigg]

I thought all this was already underway and due to be finished by this summer. Anybody know how this grant differs from the previous ones? Or just generally -- what's the status of the rebuilding?

The article provides the answer to your question. US DOT announced the obligation of the $10 million TIGER III award funds. This was a FY2011 award, the obligation means the agreements have been signed, the i's dotted, the t's crossed and the funds have been made available to ND to draw on. It is a $100 million dollar project with contributions from BNSF, Amtrak, and ND DOT, so they may have started project work already; this is just $10 million added to the funding.

 

[Phil S]

So what's been done so far and what's the expected completion date?

 

[George Harris]

So what's been done so far and what's the expected completion date?

Here is a little information, as of November past

http://www.devilslakejournal.com/article/20121114/NEWS/121119512

 

[Phil S]

So what's been done so far and what's the expected completion date?

Here is a little information, as of November past

http://www.devilslakejournal.com/article/20121114/NEWS/121119512

Thanks, George. Can't tell much from the picture but it looks like there's still a lot to be done. The feasibility study called for a 26 wk construction schedule: http://www.dot.nd.gov/manuals/planning/feasibilitystudybnsfmainlinetrackraise.pdf. Looks like they're way behind that, though it may not have been realistic in the first place (in fact, it assumed closing down the track for the entire 26 wk). Impressive salvage value for all the track steel, though that may not be net of collection/delivery costs.

 

[Ispolkom]

This $10 million is part of the 1/3 that North Dakota was supposed to come up with. As far as I know, the ND legislature hasn't appropriated the other $20 million, focusing instead on other issues. There are a few weeks left in the session (generally the North Dakota legislature only meets in odd-numbered years), so one hopes that something will eventually be done.