Washington State Legislature Passes Transportation Budget That Includes Important Funding for the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project

OLYMPIA, Wash., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — On April 25th, the Washington State Legislature passed its 2009-11 Transportation Budget and included $2 million in funding to begin constructing Segment 2 and rehabilitating Segment 3 of the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project.

According to Brig Temple, the President of Columbia Basin Railroad, the unprecedented teamwork and cooperation between the Port of Moses Lake, Columbia Basin Railroad, the City of Moses Lake and Grant County EDC was a key element in raising awareness in Olympia about this critical infrastructure project. In addition, the government affairs consultants that Columbia Basin Railroad and the Port of Moses Lake utilized in Olympia did an excellent job of keeping the issue top-of-mind with legislators. More importantly, because of all the work that was done over the past few months to raise awareness with the legislature about this project, many key legislators from across the state were instrumental in helping to secure the $2 million funding for this project.

David Plate, Port of Moses Lake Commissioner, stated that the Port of Moses Lake greatly appreciated the strong endorsement for this project from legislators all over the state, especially in such a challenging budget year in Olympia. “The broad bi-partisan support for this project shows that the legislature wants it to be successful as it will help attract vital economic development and create jobs in the greater Moses Lake area,” said Plate.

For more information, contact Tim Kelly of Columbia Basin Railroad (509) 453-9166 or Craig Baldwin of the Port of Moses Lake at (509) 762-5363.

About the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project

The Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project is a critical economic development and freight mobility project that will enhance and improve rail access to vital industries in the Moses Lake, WA area.

One of the important facets of the project is to construct a new rail segment (Segment 2) from the south side of the Port of Moses Lake’s Grant County International Airport (GCIA) to the “Industrial Area” on the east and north sides of the airport. In addition, Segment 3 (an existing rail segment) needs to be upgraded and improved.

The GCIA Industrial Area is a very desirable industrial development location in Eastern Washington because there is plenty of available industrial land, easy access to Hwy 17 and I-90, and the electrical power rates are some of the most competitive in the nation. During the past several years, the GCIA Industrial Area has competed for several major national projects (such as Boeing’s 7E7 Assembly Site, etc.). In each of these competitions, the Moses Lake area was rated in the top-5; however, improved rail access into the “Industrial Area” was listed as a critical issue. On a related note, given the recent discussions about Boeing’s future in the United States, Moses Lake would provide an excellent competitive alternative for Boeing if Segments 2 and 3 of this rail project are completed.

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SOURCE Port of Moses Lake; Columbia Basin Railroad