Director's Message
For the last few weeks the Oregon Shipping Group has been heavily engaged in putting together proposals as to grant funding for an intermodal facility in the Mid-Willamette Valley. In the big transportation bill, the Legislature appropriated $25 million in lottery funds for such a facility. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Transportation Commission established rules for the grant program as to this intermodal facility. We participated in the rulemaking process.
We have now worked with the Lebanon community and with the Brooks-Hopmere community to deliver proposals to the Oregon Department of Transportation as to potential intermodal facilities in each community.
Many of our stakeholders helped us with statistical information and letters of support. Thank you!
The Lebanon project centers around LIFTS Oregon (Linn Intermodal Facilities and Transfer Stations LLC). The Brooks-Hopmere project centers around a new entity, Oregon Port of Willamette, LLC.
The Oregon Department of Transportation will choose a small number of qualified projects for additional development. We hope to have decisions from ODOT by the end of January 2018.
In the meantime, we have continued our outreach to Oregon ports, with a recent emphasis on the Port of Coos Bay and the Port of Newport.
We see a prospect for small ships to call at Newport, using highway connections. We believe the Port of Coos Bay ought to be developed as a gateway port for Oregon, with development of the Coos Bay Rail Link and Port facilities. The International Port of Coos Bay was once the largest lumber and timber port in the world. The port has great natural capacity which can be used for container and bulk shipping.
We keep an eye on news developments and regulatory issues relating to shipping. Links to some recent news articles regarding shipping our provided below.
Please remember to contact us whenever you are aware of shipping opportunities or issues which deserve our attention.
Merry Christmas!
Kevin L. Mannix
Director
Oregon Shipping Group
