The Washington State Department of Transportation recently selected Omaha Track as the next operator for the P&L branch of the 298-mile state-owned Palouse River and Coulee City (PCC) rail system.
The department reviewed multiple proposals through a competitive evaluation process. The agreement will be finalized this summer.
The branch line runs between the Idaho state line near Pullman and Marshall, south of Spokane.
There are two other branches in the PCC rail system. The CW Branch, which runs between Cheney and Coulee City, is operated by the Washington Eastern Railroad. The PV Hooper Branch in Whitman County is operated by the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad.
The state purchased the PCC line in two transactions in 2004 and 2007.
Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar said last week that a federal grant would help fund improvements to the railroad system. A combination of $335,000 in local contributions, $5.3 million in state Connecting Washington funds and a $5.7 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant will be used to upgrade the PCC.
The $11.3 million project will replace one mile of rail, replace or rehabilitate 10 bridges and rehabilitate 28 miles of track.
The PCC system serves Adams, Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, and Whitman counties.