Director’s Message
Connor Harrington, our deputy director, and I have been leading our staff in the development of several projects.
Port of Portland: Prospects are not good. The Port itself does not appear committed to this vision. We support efforts to restore container shipping at the Port of Portland. Viable alternatives must be established to keep Oregon exporters and importers competitive. So our focus is on the development of rural rail capacity to go north to Seattle/Tacoma and south to such ports as Long Beach and Oakland, while doing all we can to establish Oregon container ship operations at two or three ports along the Oregon Coast.
Coos Bay: we continue to work with the Port of Coos Bay to explore establishment of container shipping with small ships which have their own cranes, using the Coos Bay Rail Link to connect into the Willamette Valley. As we have worked on this, we have found that there are many issues to be addressed. But we have been resolving them, item by item. Some of you know that we almost brought in a small container ship to bring in and send off cargo with South Korea. But the lead time was too short. This was a good practical project for us to learn even more about the intricacies of setting up an actual port container operation. The folks at the Port of Coos Bay and the Coos Bay Rail Link have been wonderfully cooperative. The same is true of the owner of the shipping line which was prepared to give this a shot. We are going to Coos Bay to sit down and sift through various ways to accommodate small container ships.
We are also working on the development of potential facilities in Gardiner/Reedsport which can enhance the potential for container shipping at Coos Bay.
Newport: The Portland and Western Rail Line stops at Toledo and it would take a major effort and expense to extend that line into Newport. But the major reconstruction of Highway 22 provides good truck access to Newport. Connor and I visited Newport recently. We believe there is an opportunity to develop additional port facilities. We also believe that the fishing fleet must be brought in as a true partner as to any shipping developments at the port.
Mouth of the Columbia River: We are still exploring alternatives for port development in that area to meet both bulk shipping and container shipping needs. A key positive component is that the Portland and Western Railroad Line still runs all the way to North Tongue Point, just east of Astoria. That line needs rehabilitation from Wauna out to North Tongue Point but it could be a vital rail link. This is especially important since we do not see good prospects for the necessary highway improvements to make heavy highway freight transport a reasonable alternative in this area.
Treasure Valley Intermodal: Our friends from Eastern Oregon, working with Representative Greg Smith, and the area economic development groups, are doing a wonderful job with this project. We are simply standing by and admiring their great work.
Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Facility: We vigorously advocated in support of this legislation and we are working hard to ensure that the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Oregon Department of Transportation will have an excellent proposal in front of them. There are actually several sites which can be developed. Two of the areas we have focused on are Millersburg and Lebanon. We believe a comprehensive long-term plan should incorporate facilities in both communities.
Supplemental options to intermodal: We are also looking at sites served by rail which could provide loading and unloading facilities as a supplement to service at major intermodal sites. The idea is to develop facilities where farmers can pick up empty containers by truck and bring in loaded containers by truck to be taken to a larger intermodal facility. The major issue is to make sure that any such operations are convenient for shippers and are cost-effective.
Other developments: We have met with many government officials in regard to the Willamette Valley Railroad. We have also met with its owner. We think this rail line can be an even more important transportation link with appropriate development.
There is more: we will continue to work generally on the support of other transportation projects.
We realize that we need to focus on projects that can be implemented in the short run and will have the broadest positive impact. At the same time we are continuing to develop a vision for comprehensive transportation systems in Oregon which serve the needs of our businesses and communities as to the movement of freight.
Sincerely,
Kevin L. Mannix
Director
Oregon Shipping Group
