Nearly $30-million in federal funding is headed for the Port of Coos Bay Intermodal Project, announced Oregon SenatorsRon Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle.
The $29,751,615 in funds come from theU.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail and Infrastructure Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program and are set to fund thePacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) Coos Bay Rail Line (CBRL) Upgrades Planning Project.
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The additional funds bring the total federal investment up to around $55-million,adding in the $25-million that was awarded to the project earlier this month.“On top of last week’s $25 million investment, today’s added $29 million for planning moves the port project and its huge economic and environmental benefits that much farther down the track to completion.” said Senator Wyden.
“Today’s award makes long overdue investments in the Coos Bay Rail Line and will improve sections of the line that have fallen into disrepair,” U.S. Representative Val Hoyle said. “Upgrades and repairs to rail line will help to move products across Oregon and the country faster. A renovated Coos Bay Rail Line is a key part of setting the Port of Coos Bay up to be the first ship-to-rail port on the west coast.”
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The newly awarded grant money will go towards planning improvements along the rail line route from the Port of Coos Bay to Eugene, rehabilitating tracks, reavaluating bridges, crossings, and tunnels. The grant money will also go towardsimprovements to the Eugene Yard to accommodate increased Coos Bay Rail Line traffic.
Senator Merkley expressed his enthusiasm on this new round of funding, “The wins for Coos Bay’s transformative container port project keep rolling in! This additional $29.7 million award—bringing the total federal investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to $55 million—further moves the Port of Coos Bay toward the goal of becoming the first fully ship-to-rail port facility on the West Coast.”
The Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Project is estimated to cost $2.3-billion in total buildout costs.
