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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail grant obligations continue. Today, the department announced it has approved $31.1 million for the state of Washington to improve service along the Cascades corridor.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will receive $16.1 million to conduct design, environmental review and construction work to stabilize and improve track structure along the corridor between Blaine, Wash., and the Columbia River Bridge in Vancouver, Wash. The upgrades will reduce closures and delays caused by inclement weather, according to the USDOT.

In addition, the USDOT awarded WSDOT and the Port of Vancouver USA $15 million to construct a new rail access route to the port. The project also includes building a grade separation at a crossing that has been a chokepoint for rail traffic. The project is expected to minimize delays affecting freight trains and Amtrak’s Cascades service, according to the USDOT.

WSDOT and the port are contributing a combined total of $22 million for the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2012