On Monday, Representative Val Hoyle announced another $204 million in funding for the Port of Coos Bay. This grant will fund the construction of upgrades to the Coos Bay Rail Line, including repairing and replacing track, ties, bridges and tunnels that are needed to bring the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port project closer to fruition.
Hoyle has been a champion to bring back funding for the Port of Coos Bay. This funding announcement brings Rep. Hoyle’s total amount of funding secured for the Pacific Coast Intermodal Project to nearly $300 million. She previously secured $70 million in federal grants, including $29.75 million through CRISI, $25.018 million through INFRA, $11.25 through the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $3.993 million through the Rail Crossing Elimination Grant to support improvement to port and rail infrastructure.
“We’re thrilled to see this game changing $204 million investment from the Department of Transportation to upgrade the Coos Bay rail line,” said Hoyle. “So many people worked incredibly hard to get us this far. These investments are transformational for communities across the South Coast and our supply chain resilience.”
“As Speaker of the Oregon House, I helped save the Coos Bay Rail Line because I saw how critical the Port of Coos Bay was to all those who call Oregon’s rural South Coast home. Congresswoman Hoyle, Senator Wyden, and I have worked together to secure this transformative federal investment. The grant will bring us closer to the Port of Coos Bay becoming the first fully ship-to-rail port facility on the West Coast—a watershed moment for the region and our state,” said Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. “The Port of Coos Bay project stands to create economic opportunities for working families by creating good-paying, local union jobs, and together, we’ll get this project over the finish line.”
“What great news for the South Coast and all of Oregon that the teamwork with Senator Merkley, Congresswoman Hoyle plus state and local officials has produced such a massive federal investment in this innovative rail project,” said Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. “This is a huge vote of confidence in the Port of Coos Bay’s fresh approach to generate thousands of good-paying jobs in our state and expand supply chain capacity for all of America. It’s more important than ever now to keep working to ensure this project stays moving forward.”
“This is a defining moment for Oregon’s South Coast and a tremendous step forward for the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port,” said Kyle Stevens, President of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Board of Commissioners. “This $205 million investment recognizes the national significance of the project and puts us on a path toward constructing the critical rail infrastructure needed to bring a new West Coast container gateway to life. Oregon’s federal delegation has been a steadfast champion for our coastal communities, and we are grateful for their leadership in helping secure an investment that will create economic opportunities for generations to come.”
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