Merkley and Wyden Announce $13.5 Million for Coos Bay Rail Line in Oregon


Portland, OR –
Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has officially obligated the $13.5 million in TIGER II funding to the International Port of Coos Bay to rehabilitate the 133-mile Coos Bay Rail Link.  

“This rail line is essential to Coos Bay’s economic future,” said Merkley. “I applaud the local leaders who moved to purchase the line and I am pleased that this federal partnership will take a huge step in making this project happen and create jobs for Southwest Oregon.”

“This is great news for the International Port of Coos Bay, the residents of the South Coast and for the economy of Southwestern Oregon,” Wyden said. “This is the kind of federal commitment that will spur the economic growth that leads to creating new jobs and saving existing ones. Smart funding targeted at proven job creators is the direction the spending debate should head and this funding meets that criteria.”

The TIGER II program is a competitive grant program for major infrastructure projects ranging from highways and bridges to transit, rail and ports that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area.

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