Port, Clark Public Utilities formalize land swap for rail project

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA and Clark Public Utilities have finalized an agreement to exchange property adjacent to the utility’s River Road Generating Plant and the port’s new Terminal 5 in order to accommodate rail construction.

The port commission on September 8 unanimously adopted a resolution to exchange 0.77 acre of property currently included in Terminal 5, immediately west of the utility’s property in exchange for two small triangle parcels totaling 0.77 acre on the south side of the utility’s property.

“This is a very important agreement,” said Port Commission President Nancy Baker. “Terminal 5 is an opportunity for job creation and for sustaining jobs in our community. I’m very pleased that we were able to make this work, as both of these facilities are very important to this community.”

The property the port acquires in the exchange will allow for rail construction to begin west of Gateway Avenue and around the perimeter of Terminal 5 – formerly the Alcoa/Evergreen Aluminum property. That construction will begin in the fall of this year, with expected completion slated for spring of 2010.

The Terminal 5 rail loop will provide the port with unit train access, which creates the capacity for trains of 100-120 cars bound for port tenants and customers – both inbound and outbound – to be distributed across the port's rail network internally instead of in the BNSF's Vancouver Yard and across the north/south mainline. The reduction of usage of the BNSF Vancouver Yard and decreases in mainline interruptions by port trains is expected reduce congestion through the yard and on the mainline by up to 25 percent upon completion of the rail loop.

Carol Curtis, president of the utility’s board of commissioners, said, “I’m glad we were able to work together to meet the needs of the port for the Terminal 5 project. This land trade allows us to retain the same amount of land at the River Road Generating Plant while the port receives the land required for the rail project.”

The port will also pay Clark Public Utilities $30,644 at closing, the value of improvements on the property the port is receiving from the utility.

About the Port of Vancouver USA

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community.

The Port of Vancouver is embarking on a year full of projects and developments that will lead to vital job creation, economic stimulation and environmental preservation. By diversifying its cargo mix between bulk commodities, breakbulk and project cargos, the port is responsible for job generation and significant contributions to the tax base for not only its own community, but also the state of Washington. Current expansion of the port’s rail system and development of new port industrial and marine properties will bring new jobs – both short term and long term – and the preservation of wetlands, the creation of enhanced wildlife habitat, and make way for more green/sustainable business partners operating from the port. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.

– POV –