$42.7 million in federal funds for Oregon rail safety projects include $1.6 million to City of Prineville Railway

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Tuesday that $42,712,400 in federal funding is coming to Oregon for five projects to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability across the state, including $1.6 million for a City of Prineville Railway track upgrade.

The investment—funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which advances projects that modernize America’s freight and intercity passenger rail infrastructure to move people and goods.

“Railroads are a vital mode of transportation for businesses and communities across our state, and this is the kind of significant investment in infrastructure we need to make to keep Oregon on track in the 21^st century,” Merkley said. “As I travel to every corner of our state, I see firsthand the need for bold infrastructure investments in our communities. This nearly $43 million in federal funding invests in rail safety and stronger supply chains—creating jobs and economic opportunity for all Oregonians.”

“Rail improvements in rural Oregon communities are a must to ensure small businesses generating jobs throughout our state have a full menu of reliable transportation options for their goods,” Wyden said. “Federal investments like this prove yet again the immense value of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Oregon and the entire country. And I’ll keep battling to secure similar investments from this landmark federal law I worked to pass so Oregon could channel significant infrastructure resources into building a stronger economy.”

Tuesday’s major funding announcement comes after Merkley, Wyden, and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle announced last week that the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) Coos Bay Rail Line (CBRL) Upgrades Planning Project secured an over $29.7 million award through the CRISI Program. This critical funding further moves the Port of Coos Bay toward the goal of becoming the first fully ship-to-rail port facility on the West Coast.

The five additional projects in Oregon awarded funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) CRISI Program can be found below:

1. $19,843,062 for Watco ZE Locomotive Conversion (Watco Companies, LLC). The proposed project involves project development and construction activities to acquire and repower eight (8) diesel locomotives (non-tiered and Tier 0) with eight (8) battery-electric, zero-emission locomotives to be put into service on Watco-operated rail lines. Watco operates 44 short-line railroads across the U.S. and provides rail switching service to tens of locations, including at the Georgia Pacific containerboard facility in Toledo. The project enhances climate resiliency by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the harmful health impacts associated with diesel locomotives.
2. $13,736,000 for the Lake County Rail Replacement Project (Lake County Railroad). The proposed project involves final design/construction for a rail rehabilitation project on the Lake County Railroad between Alturas, California and Lakeview, Oregon. Lake County will complete an essential rail replacement project that would significantly increase track safety standards, allow for an increase in freight, and provide new connections for environmentally friendly industries. The replacement project will significantly improve safety standards, allowing Lake County to achieve FRA Class 2 (25mph freight) track safety standards on the lower portion of the line allowing for capacity for expected growth.
3. $4,139,730 for the Sweet Home Branch Rail Relay (Albany & Eastern Railroad Company). The proposed project will complete final design and construction activities for track and track structure improvements on the Albany and Eastern Railroad’s (AERC) Sweet Home Branch in Linn County, Oregon. Specifically, the project will replace approximately 6.25 track miles of 85 lb. jointed rail with at least 112 lb. rail, which includes upgrading four turnouts and associated tie and surfacing work along the project area. The project will improve the safety and performance of rail shipments along this line
4. $3,393,608 for the Mill City Branch Tie Renewal Project (Albany & Eastern Railroad Company). The proposed project involves final design and construction activities to replace 12,000 defective ties and related ballast and surfacing on the Mill City Branch of the Albany & Eastern Railroad Company in Oregon. The project will enhance safety and improve system and service performance by removing all slow orders placed on the project segments and reducing the risk of derailment.
5. $1,600,000 for the City of Prineville Railway Track Improvement and Restoration Project (City of Prineville, Oregon). The proposed project will complete final design and construction for the rehabilitation of 18 miles of the City of Prineville Railway’s track between Prineville and Prineville Junction, OR. Specifically, the project will improve the track by replacing approximately 9,700 rail ties as well as associated tamping, resurfacing, and aligning the rail line, and the procurement of the necessary railroad equipment to perform this work including a tamper, regulator, tie inserter, tie handler, and mini excavator. These improvements will allow for the removal of two slow orders, decrease locomotive run-time and associated emissions, improve safety, and provide a Class II track condition, thereby imparting benefits to 34 rail users served by the City of Prineville Railway.