Does the New Executive Director Mean There Will Be New Directions?

The commissioners of the Port of Portland have selected their current deputy executive director, Curtis Robinhold, as the new Executive Director of the port. He will replace retiring Executive Director Bill Wyatt effective July 1, 2017. Here is the link to the news release: http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/05/23/port-of-portland-chooses-familiar-face-for-new.html

We congratulate Curtis Robinhold on his new appointment and wish him well. The challenge he will face is to continue the success of the Port in certain areas such as the PDX airport, but to move the Port in a fresh direction in regard to marine operations, especially the absolute lack of container ships at Terminal 6 at the Port.

Another challenge for the new Executive Director is to get the Port to revisit its narrow and obsolete Mission Statement. Under Oregon Law (ORS 778.015), the Port’s mission is stated as follows:

The Port of Portland is directed to promote the maritime, shipping, aviation, commercial and industrial interests of the port.

We take the position that this mission should include not only the best interests of the Port but the best interests of the people of the state of Oregon. The Oregon Legislature has the power to change this Mission Statement. Such a change could lead to an attitude adjustment on behalf of Port leadership.

We are continuing to work on the enhancement of freight capability throughout Oregon. Special project areas include:

• Re-establishment of container shipping at the Port of Portland.
• Establishment of an intermodal facility in the Southern Willamette Valley.
• Enhancing port capability at the mouth of the Columbia River, with improved rail links to the interior.
• Bringing container ships to the Port of Coos Bay.
• Improving short line rail capabilities.
• Investigating enhanced marine barge capability along the Columbia River.

We welcome recommendations as to improvements in freight shipping capability throughout the state. We continue to advocate for an establishment of an Oregon Shipping Authority as a public corporation, dedicated to ensuring that Oregon businesses have access to freight shipping systems which are reliable, predictable, and cost-effective. Our Oregon Shipping Group will continue to be an advocate for such development.

More Investment in Short line Railroads in Oregon Would Help Ease Congestion

Earlier this month, the Oregon Department of Transportation released a draft report regarding bottleneck traffic and how this problem could be fixed along Oregon’s freeways. ODOT gave an example of a fix along Interstate 84 and the expansion project which was completed in 2012. That project expanded the Interstate in the Gateway District by adding a half mile long lane in the eastbound direction.

According to the report, this fix has resulted in less wait times and congestion for commuters. The importance of the report for ODOT is to show that if the state invests even in small projects such as this I-84 project there can be significant rewards for the state. Now just imagine if the state would invest more in short line railroads to transport goods. These lines include the Portland and Western, Albany and Eastern and the Coos Bay Rail Link. If this were the case, we believe a future report from ODOT would show even greater rewards for Oregon commuters. There are thousands of trucks that drive almost 2 billion miles on Oregon freeways every year. The miles traveled by those trucks could be reduced if the use of short line railroads were a significant part of the state’s work to improve congestion along Oregon freeways.

Here is the link to the story regarding the draft report: www.oregonmetro.gov/news/draft-report-2012-bottleneck-fix-i-84-cut-traffic-delays-10-percent