Committee hears bill to create Port Capital Improvement Fund to support container service

House Bill 3050 would create a Port Capital Improvement Fund to provide loans and grants for Oregon ports that move containerized cargo, lawmakers heard Monday during the Joint Committee on Transportation.

The measure, presented by Business Oregon and backed by public ports and industry groups, would set up a fund within Business Oregon’s infrastructure finance section to prioritize funding for ports with active container service and enable the state to invest in capital repairs, dredging and other infrastructure needed to keep container operations running.

Why it matters: Ports and their marine terminals connect Oregon exporters and importers to international markets. Witnesses told the committee that maintaining container service preserves trade routes for agricultural exporters and a wide range of Oregon businesses and that several smaller ports are struggling with rising maintenance costs.

Chris Cummings, deputy director at Business Oregon, said the agency would adopt rules to prioritize projects once the fund exists and noted the bill’s short-term intent to help keep Port of Portland container service operational.…