Point Defiance Bypass
{{short description|Rail line in Pierce County, Washington, United States}}
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The Point Defiance Bypass (officially the Lakeview Subdivision) is a {{convert|14.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} rail line between the cities of DuPont and Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington. It was originally built by the Northern Pacific Railway – the Tacoma–Lakewood segment in 1874 as part of the Prairie Line, and the Lakewood–DuPont section in 1891. Passenger service on the lines declined after the 1914 completion of a flatter route along Puget Sound, and ended entirely in 1956.
The route was identified as a passenger rail bypass in 1992. Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood began in 2012. The $181.1 million improvement of the remaining section began construction in 2015 as part of general improvements to the Amtrak Cascades corridor to eliminate the slow and winding route along the Puget Sound shoreline that included single-track tunnels. It was opened for Amtrak service on December 18, 2017, but the first Cascades train derailed at speed on a bridge over Interstate 5 while traveling southbound near DuPont. Amtrak service was rerouted to the old line until passenger service resumed on November 18, 2021.
Route
The Point Defiance Bypass begins at a junction with the BNSF mainline near the Nisqually River bridge, east of Lacey. The railway crosses over Interstate 5 and travels along the freeway's north side through DuPont and Joint Base Lewis–McChord (JBLM). In Lakewood, it stops at a train station and turns north, merging with the Tacoma Rail mainline. Trains continue north through South Tacoma station and follow South Tacoma Way as it makes a gradual turn to the east.{{cite news |last=Champaco |first=Brent |date=October 27, 2008 |title=Lakewood gets ready for a lot more rail |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune}} The bypass passes under State Route 16 and over Pacific Avenue while approaching Tacoma Dome Station. The railway travels over the Dome District area of Tacoma along a high trestle bridge and rejoins the BNSF mainline near the Puyallup River bridge.{{cite web |date=July 2015 |title=Point Defiance Bypass Project |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/14B23134-AAED-41D6-8823-D2F2B13EFC53/0/PointDefianceBypassHandout_July2015.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=December 18, 2017}}
The project included the construction of five upgraded at-grade crossings and several grade-separated overpasses and underpasses along Interstate 5 in Dupont and near JBLM.{{cite web |date=March 2010 |title=Pt. Defiance Bypass Project |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/20790BB4-7A4E-44AF-8791-F3A77186A764/0/PtDefiance_March2010.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=December 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202140400/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/20790BB4-7A4E-44AF-8791-F3A77186A764/0/PtDefiance_March2010.pdf |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |date=July 2, 2016 |title=Construction to close I-5 south near Nisqually on July 9 |url=http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article86985967.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=December 18, 2017}}{{cite report |date=February 2013 |title=Point Defiance Bypass Project: Finding of No Significant Impact |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2009/12/03/SignedFONSI2.pdf |publisher=Federal Railroad Administration |accessdate=December 18, 2017}}
History
File:Point Defiance Bypass in Lakewood.jpg]]
The Northern Pacific Railway (NP) opened the Prairie Line – part of its planned transcontinental mainline – through Yelm and Lakewood on January 5, 1874.{{cite web |date=April 2011 |work=Prairie Line Terminal Section: Catalog of Character-Defining Features |title=1: Catalog |url=https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/sites/default/files/global/documents/facilities/prairielineterminalsectiondocumentation_i-20.pdf |publisher=University of Washington, Tacoma |pages=9–16}}{{rp|11}} On May 1, 1891, the NP-owned Tacoma, Olympia & Grays Harbor Railroad completed a {{convert|24.7|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} branch of the Northern Pacific between Lakeview (near modern Lakewood) and Lacey, passing through the Fort Lewis military base.{{cite book |last=Robertson |first=Donald B. |year=1986 |title=Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History: Oregon, Washington |page=292 |publisher=Caxton Press |location=Caldwell, Idaho |isbn=9780870043666 |oclc=13456066 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2gC82vs_OHsC |via=Google Books |accessdate=December 18, 2017}} By 1914, the NP (plus the GN and UP under trackage rights) operated 11 daily round trips over the Prairie Line, plus 3 daily round trips to Grays Harbor over the newer branch.{{rp|12}}
Just south of Tacoma, the Prairie Line had a {{convert|2.2|miles|adj=on}} section of difficult 2.2% grade. In 1914, the NP opened the Point Defiance Line along the coast of Puget Sound and around Point Defiance.{{cite news |last=Sailor |first=Craig |date=March 26, 2017 |title=Tacoma telegraph operators kept trains on track and on time |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article140792883.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=December 18, 2017}} Part of the line to Grays Harbor was used by the new line; the section between DuPont and Lakewood became the American Lake Branch. Most NP and UP passenger and freight service moved to the newer, flatter line.{{rp|12}} On August 8, 1943, the GN moved its remaining Seattle–Portland round trip to the Point Defiance Line, leaving only NP trains to Grays Harbor on the old line. Those trains were discontinued in February 1956, leaving the American Lake Branch and the Tacoma–Tenino section of the Prairie Line used only by freight service.{{rp|15}} The GN and NP were merged into the Burlington Northern Railway (BN) in 1970. In 1973, the BN increased clearances on the Point Defiance Line, allowing trains carrying Boeing aircraft parts to use that line. Long-distance freight service was removed from the Prairie Line, and it was abandoned south of Yelm in 1986.{{rp|16}}
The Point Defiance Line, however, proved not to be ideal for Amtrak passenger service. Mudslides frequently closed the line, and the 1988 conversion of two tunnels to single track to further increase freight clearances limited capacity.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2010/07/26/07152010TechTeamSlides.pdf |title=Point Defiance Bypass Project Technical Advisory Team |date=July 15, 2010 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation}} In 1992, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) identified the American Lake Branch and the northern section of the Prairie Line as a potential alignment for a new Amtrak bypass of Point Defiance.{{cite news |last=Joseph |first=Turner |date=August 4, 1998 |title=Commuter rail may hasten new Amtrak route |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |location=Tacoma, Washington}} In April 2003, the BNSF Railway (the successor to the BN) removed the remaining {{convert|2.1|miles}} of the Prairie Line in Tacoma from service, thus allowing Sound Transit to build the Tacoma Link without an expensive level crossing. In return, Sound Transit funded repairs to the American Lake Branch for continued BNSF freight service to Fort Lewis, while Tacoma Rail took over freight service on the line in Tacoma.{{rp|16}} BNSF sold the Tacoma–Lakewood section to Sound Transit for commuter rail use in 2004 for $13.4 million, with BNSF retaining a freight easement.{{cite press release |date=August 13, 2004 |title=Sound Transit takes ownership of Tacoma to Lakewood rail line |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/News-release-archive/Sound-Transit-takes-ownership-of-Tacoma-to-Lakewood-rail-line |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=January 29, 2018}}{{cite web |date=August 29, 2005 |title=Finance Docket No. 34747, Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority |url=https://www.stb.gov/Filings/all_2000s.nsf/d6ef3e0bc7fe3c6085256fe1004f61cb/85257ca7006c955b8525706d005141a0/$FILE/214613.pdf |publisher=Surface Transportation Board |accessdate=January 29, 2018 |archive-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130045621/https://www.stb.gov/Filings/all_2000s.nsf/d6ef3e0bc7fe3c6085256fe1004f61cb/85257ca7006c955b8525706d005141a0/$FILE/214613.pdf}} This sale was part of a larger, $32 million purchase of 21 miles of BNSF track between Tacoma and the Nisqually River (at the border between Pierce County and Thurston County).{{cite press release |date=December 17, 2003 |title=Sound Transit finalizes Sounder commuter rail agreement with BNSF - Seattle-to-Everett service starts December 21 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/sound-transit-finalizes-sounder-commuter-rail-agreement |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=December 23, 2023}}
WSDOT published a long-range plan for the Amtrak Cascades corridor in 2006, outlining a series of projects needed before reactivating passenger rail service on the line.{{cite news |last=Tucker |first=Rob |date=November 15, 2006 |title=State plans new route for passenger trains |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |location=Tacoma, Washington}} The projects, known collectively as the Point Defiance Bypass, included rebuilding of tracks and ties, a new signal system, improvements to at-grade crossings, and a $230 million bridge to replace a viaduct crossing Interstate 5 on a tight curve near the Nisqually River. The project ultimately did not include the Nisqually bridge, which became the site of the 2017 derailment.{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=January 2, 2018 |title=Straightening of curve at Amtrak derailment site in Dupont had not been state priority |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/straightening-of-curve-at-derailment-site-in-dupont-had-not-been-state-priority/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 29, 2018}}
The Point Defiance Bypass project underwent environmental review in 2006 and started final design in 2007. The $181 million project was funded through transportation packages previously approved by the state legislature, as well as the federal stimulus package of 2009.{{cite press release |date=March 4, 2013 |title=Amtrak Cascades one step closer to faster, more frequent service |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/04_point_defiance_bypass_FONSI_issued.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220174120/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2013/03/04_point_defiance_bypass_FONSI_issued.htm |archivedate=February 20, 2014 |accessdate=January 29, 2018}} Officials from Lakewood and DuPont voiced their concerns about safety and increased traffic congestion resulting from the bypass's construction, leading to concessions in the final design by the state.{{cite news |last=Champaco |first=Brent |date=October 20, 2009 |title=Bypass worries Lakewood |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune}}{{cite news |last=Champaco |first=Brent |date=April 27, 2010 |title=Dupont joins train fight |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune}} Construction began in 2009, with the northern end connected to a former UP line at Tacoma Dome Station, and Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood began in October 2012.{{cite news |last=Doughton |first=Sandi |authorlink=Sandi Doughton |date=October 7, 2012 |title=Lakewood area celebrates arrival of Sounder service |page=B2 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019363197_sounder07m.html |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 29, 2018}} Construction on the Nisqually–Lakewood segment began in 2015 and was completed in late 2016. Testing of trains at full speeds of up to {{convert|79|mph}} was conducted from January 2017 to December 2017.{{cite news |last=Lynn |first=Adam |date=January 17, 2017 |title=Look out for fast trains as Point Defiance Bypass tests begin |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article126738254.html |work=The News Tribune |location=Tacoma, Washington |accessdate=January 29, 2018}}
The bypass is planned to carry twelve daily Amtrak trains on the Cascades and Coast Starlight.{{cite news |last=Sailor |first=Craig |date=December 8, 2017 |title=One of the last great Washington train rides is coming to an end |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article188843224.html |work=The News Tribune |location=Tacoma, Washington |accessdate=February 3, 2018}} Sound Transit plans to extend Sounder commuter rail service to DuPont in 2036, with an additional station at Berkeley Street.{{cite web |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Sounder Extension to DuPont |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/Sounder_ExpansiontoDuPont_1.pdf |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
=2017 derailment=
{{main|2017 Washington train derailment}}
On December 18, 2017, during the inaugural southbound run of the Cascades on the Point Defiance Bypass, the train derailed while crossing Interstate 5 near the Nisqually River. Of the 84 people aboard (77 passengers and 7 employees) on board, 3 were killed.{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Joseph |last2=Bush |first2=Evan |last3=Clarridge |first3=Christine |date=December 18, 2017 |title=At least 3 dead after Amtrak train derails from bridge onto Interstate 5 near Olympia |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/train-derails-from-bridge-onto-interstate-5-near-olympia/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 18, 2017}}
After the accident, which closed the bypass to Amtrak service, WSDOT announced that it would not resume service until the full implementation of positive train control (PTC). (Sounder service to Lakewood continued to operate.) Service was then scheduled to restart in early 2019.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Mike |date=December 21, 2017 |title=Washington state: No passenger trains on Amtrak derailment route until safety systems are in place |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-state-no-passenger-trains-on-amtrak-derailment-route-until-safety-systems-are-in-place/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 21, 2017}} The PTC system was fully installed by late 2018 and activated on the Point Defiance Bypass in March 2019.{{cite news |last=Bruell |first=Alex |date=December 18, 2018 |title=WSDOT says it's on track for train safety deadline |url=https://tdn.com/news/local/wsdot-says-it-s-on-track-for-train-safety-deadline/article_70e66156-d66e-54c8-9e3d-bff85e72590c.html |work=The Daily News |accessdate=March 26, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/positive-train-control-fully-activated-on-amtrak-cascades-corridor-wsdot-says/934011485 |title=Positive train control fully activated on Amtrak Cascades corridor, WSDOT says |publisher=KIRO 7 |date=March 25, 2019 |accessdate=March 26, 2019}} The National Transportation Safety Board presented its final report on the accident on May 21, 2019, with WSDOT issuing a subsequent statement that they would need time to analyze the report before resuming service on the line.{{cite news |last=Corselli |first=Andrew |date=May 23, 2019 |title=NTSB: Inadequate planning, training caused Amtrak 501 wreck |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/commuterregional/ntsb-inadequate-planning-training-caused-amtrak-501-wreck/ |work=Railway Age |accessdate=January 13, 2020}}{{cite web |date=August 2019 |title=December 2017 derailment: Questions and answers about the derailment |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/rail/questions-answers-derailment |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=July 28, 2019 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831163941/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/rail/questions-answers-derailment |url-status=dead }} The restoration of Amtrak service on the Point Defiance Bypass was then tentatively scheduled for 2020, after agreements with local officials and the arrival of new Talgo trainsets.{{cite news |last=Banse |first=Tom |date=December 23, 2019 |title=Plans to beef up Amtrak Cascades service in 2020 beset by multiple uncertainties |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/plans-to-beef-up-amtrak-cascades-service-in-2020-beset-by-multiple-uncertainties |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=January 13, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=May 22, 2019 |title=WSDOT to replace its Talgo railcars like those in the 2017 Amtrak crash near DuPont 'as soon as possible' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/wsdot-to-replace-its-talgo-railcars-like-those-in-the-2017-amtrak-crash-near-dupont-as-soon-as-possible/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 13, 2020}}
Passenger service on the bypass resumed on November 18, 2021, following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last=Clarridge |first=Christine |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Amtrak service along Point Defiance bypass to resume 4 years after deadly derailment |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/amtrak-service-along-point-defiance-bypass-to-resume-4-years-after-deadly-derailment/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 11, 2021}}{{cite news |date=December 18, 2021 |title=Amtrak resumes service on Point Defiance Bypass route 4 years after deadly derailment |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/amtrak-point-defiance-bypass-route-resumes-service/281-0904cdaf-83cf-49ac-8cc5-d6463568da17 |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=November 18, 2021}}
See also
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