Director's Message

The Oregon Shipping Group continues to work on several projects.

First, we are pressing the Legislature to pass legislation which will establish a new public corporation to be known as the Oregon Shipping Authority. This is designed to provide statewide support for enhancing shipping capability to hold down costs for Oregon businesses.

Second, we are facilitating establishment of an intermodal and transload facility in Lebanon. This can be a dynamic center for moving and exchanging freight loads through Oregon, into Oregon, and out of Oregon.

Third, we are working towards establishment of small-ship maritime freight service to and from the Port of Coos Bay. As part of this effort we are supporting efforts to better connect the Coos Bay rail link with railroads in the southern part of the Willamette Valley.

Finally, we are looking at prospects for development of a deepwater port just east of Astoria.

Sincerely,

Kevin L. Mannix

Project Director

Connect Oregon

The state legislature’s Joint Transportation, Preservation and Modernization committee has been hearing presentations from work groups which focus on state-wide transportation priorities. The multimodal work group, led by Rep. McKeown, Rep. Olson, and Rep. Smith, recently presented to the Joint Transportation Committee and recommended that full funding of $100 million be provided to the Connect Oregon program for the next biennium.  In addition, the work group recommended stronger funding for Aviation, Marine and Rail, and a focus on projects of “statewide significance.” The Oregon Shipping Group participated in some of these work group sessions and supports the multimodal work group’s recommendations. 

Did you know:  

• One railcar has the capacity of 3.8 trucks, and a 100 car train has the capacity of 380 trucks.
• 25 square feet of turf grass produces enough oxygen to meet the oxygen needs of one human being for one day.
• Roughly 350 million tons of freight, valued at over $350 billion, move through the State of Oregon each year.