ODOT, railroads outline needs and funding options as passenger ridership grows

At an informational meeting of the Joint Committee on Transportation on March 4 in Salem, Oregon Department of Transportation officials, Amtrak and representatives of major and short-line railroads described the state rail system, recent ridership gains and a list of projects they say will be needed to expand passenger service and improve freight efficiency.

"ODOT does not own or operate any rail service in the state," Amanda Pietz, administrator for the Policy, Data and Analysis Division at the Oregon Department of Transportation, told the committee, adding that the agency owns about 55 miles of right-of-way under tracks but that most lines are privately owned and any work requires owner approval.

The distinction matters because much of Oregon’s rail network — including the lines used by Amtrak Cascades and most freight routes — is owned and operated by Class I and Class III companies. That structure shapes what public dollars can achieve and where state or local funding will be needed to leverage federal grants.

Pietz summarized the state’s dedicated rail funding. Connect Oregon, a competitive capital grants program, is the largest state source for rail improvements at roughly $45 million per biennium. Smaller amounts support crossings and state-supported passenger services; federal grants are critical but often require match or…