South Kelso Railroad Grade Crossing Project

The City of Kelso, Washington, planned to grade separate crossings of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad in South Kelso. The project separated two at-grade crossings and provided safe reliable access to underdeveloped areas of South Kelso. One new unrestricted crossing replaced two at-grade street crossings where the BNSF railroad intersects Mill Street and Yew Street.

HMMH provided noise and air quality consulting services for the project in support of the environmental permitting effort. For the noise analysis, the Firm conducted a highway noise analysis consistent with the requirements of 23 CFR 772 and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) noise policy. Because of the proximity of the properties near the railroad, this analysis effort also included considerations of railroad noise exposure implementing analysis guidance provided in the Federal Transit Authority’s Noise and Vibration Assessment document, which has been adopted by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The findings of this technical study are summarized in the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) document.