Port of Ridgefield awarded funds to complete rail project

The Port of Ridgefield has been awarded a $900,000 grant for the completion of its Pioneer Street Rail Overpass Project.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Railroad Safety Grant was secured with help from local Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations.

The award will help pay for the final phase of the three-phase project that will allow safe passage to and from the port’s waterfront property and downtown Ridgefield. The project area is a shared rail corridor with more than 50 passenger and freight trains each day, the port said.

“The Port of Ridgefield should be applauded for spearheading this project that improves the livability, safety and opportunity for growth in this community,” said Herrera Beutler in a press release. “The current crossing is one of the most dangerous in Washington, and I’m pleased a federal grant is going to the project to increase safety and prevent its waterfront, new port development and boat launch from being interrupted by train crossing delays.”

“This project has many friends, without which we wouldn’t have received this grant award, including Congresswoman Herrera Buetler, the Washington Public Ports Association, Washington Department of Transportation and our longtime project partner, the City of Ridgefield,” added Brent Grening, Port of Ridgefield CEO.

Construction on the final phase of the project is anticipated to begin summer 2017.

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