HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - BOCC (002)4
April 13, 2021
GRANT COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P 0 Box 37
EPHRATA WA 98823
(509) 754-2011
Re: Support of Transportation Infrastructure Fundin$! for Port of Quincy Rail
Infrastructure Expansion Project
To whom it may concern,
The Grant County Board of County Commissioners write in support of the $7.1 million
transportation funding request for the "Port of Quincy Rail Infrastructure Expansion
Project", which would expand the rail infrastructure on the northeast side of Quincy, WA, both
within the Port's current rail terminal and to nearby industrial zoned properties in the Quincy Port
District.
In particular, the Rail Infrastructure Expansion project would add several new rail tracks to the
Port's rail terminal which would expand upon the Port's existing rail infrastructure which has been
in successful operation for many years. The capacity, flexibility and efficiency of the rail terminal
facility would be greatly increased by creating new tracks to store in -coming empty rail cars and
loaded cars ready for departure without obstructing the loading tracks. Additionally, it would
allow for longer trains to be loaded or unloaded at Port's rail terminal without obstructing the
existing BNSF Mainline track. The proposed design is intended to be easily expanded in the future
to serve potential new industries, including potential extension to the east at Road 0 NW.
The above proposed rail infrastructure additions are necessary to help attract and/or
accommodate large job -creating industrial, manufacturing and food processing projects on
the northeast side of Quincy, as well as to keep up with the increasing growth in ocean
container freight (including frozen and dry agricultural products from central/eastern
Washington) going from the Port of Quincy to the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
Furthermore, the Port of Quincy has been receiving some inquiries from shippers and other
stakeholders about the possibility of utilizing the Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal as a
westbound inland container port in central Washington in which trains could be loaded at the Rail
Terminal with ocean containers of Washington State agricultural products and then be railed to the
Ports of Seattle and Tacoma to be loaded onto ocean container ships.
Because of the above-mentioned increased interest in utilizing the Rail Terminal by food
processors and manufacturers as well as the additional cargo and containers that are being loaded
and unloaded at the rail terminal there, it is very important that the rail infrastructure at the Quincy
Rail Terminal be expanded.
Danny E. Stone Rob Jones Cindy Carter
District 1 District 2 District 3
I'To MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS, SERVING TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES9 WHILE FOSTERING
A RESPECTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT."
Overall, the Port of Quincy Rail Infrastructure Expansion Project has a statewide and regional
benefit as it will help to provide more freight mobility options to Pacific Northwest and
Washington State agricultural and food shippers and exporters, attract industrial and
manufacturing projects that will create family wage jobs, lessen wear and tear on freeways,
highways and mountain passes by converting over -the -road freight to rail freight, and decrease
fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
In conclusion, we support the $7.1 million of transportation funding being requested for the
"Port of Quincy Rail Infrastructure Expansion Project", which would expand and enhance
rail infrastructure to attract/meet industrial and economic growth Quincy and Grant
County, and to be able to handle the increasing volumes of westbound export container
freight and eastbound rail freight.
Thank you for your consideration of our transportation funding request for this important freight
mobility and rail infrastructure project.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF G NT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Cindy C iter, Chair Danny .Stone Rob Ju���
:bjv
Cc: Port of Quincy