The Build America Bureau, under the Department of Transportation, has cleared a sizable $35.9 million loan for the Port of Longview's Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion project in Washington State, as confirmed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. The funding aims to double freight capacity and eliminate current congestion problems by adding new tracks and supporting infrastructure. According to a statement, this initiative is tied directly to recent improvements made to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which now enables borrowers to finance up to 49 percent of project costs with low-interest, long-term loans.
This financial injection is expected to deeply decrease delays by allowing trains to more efficiently navigate through the corridor. "This expansion of the Port of Longview will strengthen our export capacity, improve safety, and unleash the region's rural economy," Duffy remarked as per the Department of Transportation. The project will also indirectly spur economic growth, drawing in private investment and boosting the local economy with an estimated $2.8 billion in annual activity and a substantial $66 million in state tax revenues.
A central feature of the project is the extension of the existing rail tracks, with six new 8,500-foot tracks and a six-track embankment for future expansion. These upgrades are not just about improving throughput; they're also about advancing safety with new crew access roads and related infrastructure. Furthermore, the project is looking to eventually revamp the Berth 4 Grain Complex as part of a larger revitalization effort put forth by the Port of Longview, as reported by the Department of Transportation.
As a testament to the project's significance, "the Port is grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for its support through the TIFIA loan, which will advance our Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion Project and strengthen the Port’s role in regional economic growth," said Port CEO Dan Stahl on Department of Transportation. Additional funding comes from a mix of Federal, State, and local sources, bringing the total estimated cost for the project to $73.3 million. With construction already underway, the venture is set to achieve substantial completion in 2028. The Port of Longview, which has been operational since 1921 and occupies a strategic spot on the Columbia River, will likely to see a significant uptick in activity following this developmental push.
