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Freight and rail leaders press for Connect Oregon and rail match funding
Summary
Rail and freight advisory representatives told the commission that preservation of existing short-line rail and state match funds for Connect Oregon are essential to shift freight off highways and to compete for federal discretionary grants.
Freight and rail advisory members told the commission that state match programs and preservation investments are critical to keep short-line rail viable and to shift truck freight off Oregon highways. Ross Lane, vice chair of a rail advisory committee, said short lines operate in the 0–400‑mile lane and need public assistance and partnerships to increase speed and reliability.
"In order for us to make transformational investments on our railroad, we need public assistance, public‑private partnership," Ross Lane said. David Anser, filling in for the Freight Advisory Committee chair, added that Connect Oregon funding — which used to provide state match for multimodal projects — had been reduced and that its cutback makes it harder for local projects to secure federal grants. Committee members urged the commission and staff to help package projects so they can compete for large federal match opportunities.
