Coos Bay Secures Up to $205 Million in Federal Funding for Rail Line

The Port of Coos Bay in Oregon received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to upgrade the rail line that will connect the future port terminal with the national freight network. Port Technology reported the amount at $204.8 million, while Jornal Portuario and The Maritime Executive cited a figure of $205 million. The funds come from the CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) program and will support the future Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP).

According to Port Technology, the funding will cover the final design and construction of the Coos Bay Rail Line, including upgrades to track, bridges and tunnels, as well as new sidings, staging areas and the installation of Centralized Traffic Control. These works will enable the line to handle double-stack container trains and provide capacity for the future terminal.

The PCIP is being developed through a public-private partnership between the port and NorthPoint Development, which is leading development of the marine terminal, with technical support from Bohlin Group, which has been working on the project for more than five years. Chad Meyer, president of NorthPoint, noted that planning and permitting are essential, but stressed that this is the first time federal funding has been secured specifically for construction rather than just planning.

Port Technology describes the PCIP as the first new container gateway on the West Coast in a generation and the country's first ship-to-rail container terminal, with a projected annual capacity of approximately 1.2 million TEU, expected to generate about 2,500 permanent jobs and 2,600 jobs during the three years of construction.

The Maritime Executive reported that, if completed, the terminal would represent a $2.3 billion investment and would allow it to receive neopanamax vessels of up to 13,000 TEU, requiring vertical dredging of about eight feet (from 37 to 45 feet) and a 150-foot widening of the channel over the first eight kilometers from the entrance bar. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, stated that the project moves the port closer to becoming the West Coast's first fully ship-to-rail facility, creating well-paid union jobs in the region.

The new allocation adds to other contributions: $160 million committed by the Oregon Legislature, nearly $70 million in previous federal grants, and $25 million in private commitment from NorthPoint, according to Port Technology; in addition, The Maritime Executive mentioned an additional $11 million grant from the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) previously awarded for other work on the rail line.