SUPPORT GROWING FOR ECONOMIC STIMULUS FUNDING TO REHABILITATE AND UPGRADE THE CLARK COUNTY RAIL LINE

Vancouver, WA – A groundswell of support is occurring for Federal and/or State Economic Stimulus Funding to be allocated to rehabilitate and upgrade the Clark County, Washington Rail Line. The “Clark County Rail Line Rehabilitation & Improvement Project” is a critical infrastructure project which would result in immediate positive impacts to economic development, job creation and freight mobility in Southwest Washington State.

The Clark County owned rail line runs for 33 miles across the county beginning from the BNSF mainline near Vancouver and then goes to Battle Ground, Brush Prairie, and Yacolt ending at Chelatchie (see attached map). This rail line is vital to economic development in Southwest Washington. Unfortunately, over the last 50 years, the rail line fell into disrepair and is badly in need of rehabilitation and refurbishment.



However, the following positive recent events have occurred to justify restoration of the line:

· The Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad (PVJR) signed a long-term lease with Clark County in 2004 to operate the rail line and has already helped to significantly increase freight shipments (by over 1000%) in less than 4 years.

· The Clark County Commissioners created a full-time Railroad Coordinator position in 2007 to help manage and oversee the Clark County Rail Line.

· The PVJR has expended nearly $1 million of our own private monies to increase maintenance, boost marketing, and improve infrastructure of the line.

· Over the past 4 years, Clark County has been awarded approximately $2.8 million in grants from the State of Washington (i.e. WSDOT) to do some upgrades (such as the replacement of ties and underlying rock) on a portion of the first 5 miles of the century old track from Fruit Valley Road in Vancouver to the crossing at 78th Street in Hazel Dell.

· The PVJR and Clark County have been recently using a tamping machine, located near Vancouver in the Rye Yard between St. Johns and 78th Street (see attached photo of a tamping machine), to lift up the old track and pack new ballast (crushed stone) under a portion of line to make some of the existing tracks last a little longer.

· The PVJR has purchased properties near milepost 5.2 and is developing a transload facility.

· The Clark County Board of Commissioners recently approved as part of their comprehensive plan to add nearly 950 acres of new industrially zoned land located at about MP 9.0.

· The parent company of the PVJR, Columbia Basin Railroad, was recently recognized (by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) as the Short-line Railroad of the Year in 2008.

· These above mentioned positive developments have caught the attention of several companies and there is considerable interest in locating new businesses (that would create many jobs) along the line if it can be upgraded.

Although the above mentioned events are very encouraging, much more needs to be done:

· Nearly 200 million pounds of ballast (rock) will need to be purchased and installed on the line.

· Nearly 70,000 railroad ties will need to be replaced.

· All 33 miles of rail or over 16 million pounds of steel will need to be replaced.

A number of key organizations, companies and policymakers have taken notice of the progress that is occurring regarding the Clark County Rail Line and support has been growing quickly to obtain Federal and/or State Economic Stimulus Funds to rehabilitate and restore the line. In particular, the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council recently included the Clark County Rail Line on its list of “ready-to-go” economic stimulus projects in Clark County, Washington. In addition, several state legislators from the Clark County area have recently sent letters to Governor Christine Gregoire requesting that economic stimulus funding be allocated for the Clark County Rail Line.

“The rail line is a vital piece of our overall economic development plan in helping to bring family wage jobs to Clark County,” said Fred Abraham, Clark County Railroad Coordinator.

On a related note, in the January 15, 2008 Columbian newspaper, Gus Melonas of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway made the following positive statement about the Clark County Rail Line : "This rail line, with the area growth, now provides a significant transportation corridor for continued economic growth and development in Clark County."

According to Eric Temple, President of the Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad, “This line has a huge amount of economic development potential. It is critical that it be upgraded and improved so it will be able to support additional commercial freight or tourism activities.”

Specifically, there are two phases of track upgrades that need to be completed to rehabilitate and refurbish this line. Phase 1 would upgrade the track to Class 2 (25 MPH) condition between Vancouver and Battle Ground and improve freight mobility and provide for critical economic development along the line. The second phase would be to upgrade the line from Battle Ground to Chelatchie to a Class 2 (25 MPH) track condition. Once phases 1 and 2 are completed, the PVJR would also be able to run a Dinner Train over the entire length of the County’s rail line, which would help bring much-needed tourism economic development to rural Clark County.

In summary, there is strong support for restoring the Clark County Rail Line as it will greatly enhance freight mobility, economic development and tourism opportunities in Clark County. It is estimated that approximately $12 million in funding is needed to complete the Phase 1 upgrades to bring that portion of the line to Class 2 (25 MPH) condition. In addition, another $16 million will be needed to upgrade the Phase 2 portion of the line from Battle Ground to Chelatchie.

However, in the immediate term within Phase 1, it is imperative that new rail (i.e. new steel) be installed on the first 5 miles of the line from Fruit Valley Road to 88th Street, as well as new sidings and interchanges between 78th Street and 88th Street.

As a result, $6.9 million in Economic Stimulus Funding is needed in the very near term for Clark County to install new rail (from Fruit Valley Road to 88th Street), and also construct new sidings and interchanges (between 78th Street and 88th Street).

For more information, please contact Eric Temple of the PVJR at 206-660-4731, Fred Abraham of Clark County at 360-397-2323, or Patrick Boss of the Clark County Rail Restoration Alliance at 360-397-7379.