Why the $3.5M sprint to demolish a 90-year-old Pasco underpass?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pasco secures $3.5M from Washington State Public Works Board for demolition.
- City repays $1.75M loan at 1.06%. Real estate excise taxes will repay the loan.
- BNSF wants start before summer harvest; city and BNSF still finalizing design.
Pasco hopes to demolish and backfill the defunct Lewis Street Underpass this year after securing $3.5 million in loans and grants to cover project costs.
The funds — awarded by the Washington State Public Works Board — include a $1.75 million loan to be repaid with 1.06% interest.
The cost to the city will be about $100,000 each year for the next 20 years, which will be paid using city real estate excise tax dollars.
It’s a big leap forward for the 90-year-old underpass project after it was partially filled in and gated off following the opening of the Lewis Street Overpass in April 2024.
The 625-foot-long overpass spans multiple tracks owned by BNSF railway, and connects downtown with neighborhoods in east Pasco. The $36 million price tag was paid for mostly by Washington state and the federal government.
BNSF wants the city to demolish the top 6 feet of the old underpass, backfill it to grade and stabilize the foundation of the tracks that cross over the top.
Two years ago, the rail giant sprang the request on the city very late in the process. Since then, city staff have been looking to find the money to pay for the work.
But the city has a small window if it wants to complete the demolition this year.
BNSF told the city it wants the project to start before the summer harvest season and grain rush, though an exact timeline has yet to be set.
Both are still in talks about the design. The project will likely require segmented removal of tracks to complete, as well as intensive coordination between the city and company.
Pasco also will need to put out bids for a contractor to do the work. The state Public Works Board also requires loan recipients to finish the contracted work within six months of getting the money.
‘A lot of win-wins’
On Monday, Pasco City Council unanimously agreed to accept the state loan and grant money.
City Public Works Director Maria Serra said BNSF has shown more interest in quickly removing the underpass than it did during the overpass construction.
While the overpass helped Tri-Cities commuters, the underpass removal could open the door to improved efficiencies for the country’s largest freight railway.
“There’s a lot of win-wins in this,” she said.
But Pasco may not have the same leverage to control costs since the freight line giant has the call to order, deny or make changes to the work the city does.
Mayor Charles Grimm gave kudos to city staff for securing the low-interest loan, and Mayor Pro Tem David Milne said it was nice to see the city making headway on the project.
“Just glad to see this final piece taken care of,” Milne said. “It seems to be the best solution overall, as far as what can be done and the timeframe that’s allowed.”
The Lewis Street Underpass was originally built in 1937.
It served as a vital conduit to downtown for Black and Asian Pasco residents living east of the railyard, and was a symbol of racial segregation for many.
Many years ago, the city deemed it functionally obsolete because of its narrow lanes, low overhead clearance and limited sight distance.
It created a traffic bottleneck and safety hazard for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The city is planning a landmark made out of a portion of the underpass exterior to commemorate the history of the structure.
