Washington state OKs funding for Pend Oreille rail crossing improvements

Washington state regulators approved $25,000 in funding from the Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF) to support safety improvements at the State Route 20 grade crossing near Usk in Pend Oreille County.

Led by the Port of Pend Oreille and Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, the $150,000 project is designed to reconstruct the rural crossing where SR 20 meets the tracks. The upgrades will address long-standing safety concerns, including a deep dip in the roadway and poor drainage that create hazards for drivers, school buses, snowplows and emergency responders, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) officials said in a press release.

Port and railroad officials expect construction to occur six to eight weeks in summer 2026. The port will cover $125,000 of the project's cost. The UTC regulates railroad safety, including approving new rail crossings and closing or altering existing crossings.