Port signs agreement with USDOT, securing $10 million in funding

A critical agreement has been signed between the Port of Vancouver USA and the U.S. Department of Transportation that secures $10 million in funding for the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) project, an on-going, multi-year effort to improve the movement of freight through the port and reduce congestion on the regional rail system.

The port was selected to receive the funding in October 2010 as part of the department’s TIGER II (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program. Signing of the agreement between the two parties was the final step necessary to guarantee the port’s receipt of the funding.

“Securing this funding was a very important step forward,” said Larry Paulson, executive director of the Port of Vancouver. “It will allow us to start work on two critical elements of the rail project and moves us closer to our end goal, which is a more efficient rail system that accommodates growth of our existing tenants, attracts future private-sector development and creates good-paying jobs for this community.”

Divided into 20 project elements, the WVFA project includes construction of a new dual carrier rail access into the port, enhancement of the port’s internal rail system, relocation of port facilities and utilities to accommodate track realignment, and improvements to port roadways. The $10 million TIGER II grant will be used for two specific elements.

An overpass at Gateway Avenue will be constructed to separate vehicle and train traffic and provide necessary access to Terminal 5, supporting a future potash export facility, wind energy imports, Subaru America, and other waterfront tenants and customers.

Funding also will go toward track improvements to serve the port’s grain terminal, operated by United Grain Corporation (UGC). The improvements will double the number of rail cars that can be unloaded at one time, from 11 cars to 22 cars. The planned rail improvements will coincide with UGC’s $72 million expansion of the grain elevators already underway.

Both projects are expected to begin in 2011.

With completion anticipated in 2017, the $150 million West Vancouver Freight Access project is expected to attract more than $400 million in private-sector investment and create between 1,000 and 2,000 new, permanent jobs. In addition, the project generates an anticipated 4,000 construction jobs over the life of the project.

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.

– POV –

Theresa Wagner
Communications Manager
3103 NW Lower River Road, Vancouver, WA 98660
Direct: 360.992.1107 |  Cell: 360.518.2553
twagner@portvanusa.com |  www.portvanusa.com