Dec. 20, 2007
Docket Number TR-070696

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) will hold two public meetings in January to hear the public’s views on a request by BNSF Railway and the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to close the Hickox Rd. railroad grade crossing near Mount Vernon.

The UTC has scheduled the first public meeting at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 7. The second meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8. Both meetings will be held in the multi-purpose room of the Mount Vernon Police and Court Campus, 1805 Continental Place in Mount Vernon.

The DOT is requesting the extension of an existing siding in the area – a second track where trains pull off and wait for another train to go through. DOT requested the project to improve Amtrak and freight-train service between Seattle and Vancouver B.C.
BNSF Railway is proposing to close the Hickox Road railroad grade crossing if the siding-extension project is approved.

The commission has received about 200 public comments, all opposing closure of the crossing. Members of the public, who are unable to attend the meetings, may send comments to the following e-mail address: comments@utc.wa.gov. The commission also will accept public comments submitted by mail to: UTC, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 10.

The UTC is the state agency responsible for railroad safety, including approving new grade crossings and closing or altering existing rail crossings. The agency investigates train accidents, inspects railroad crossings, teaches public education classes and approves rail-safety improvement projects in Washington.