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The Oregon Department of Transportation recently announced that 65 applications seeking ConnectOregon IV grants totaling $77.8 million have advanced to the review process. The applications first will be reviewed by the modal committee, then by regional committees followed by a final review committee before being considered by final approval the Oregon Transportation Commission in summer.

The ConnectOregon IV program will provide $40 million in funding. The applications include 21 rail projects seeking $32.2 million; seven public transit projects seeking for $11.9 million; 28 aviation projects seeking $20.6 million; and nine marine projects seeking $12.9 million. The ConnectOregon program focuses on projects designed to improve connections between Oregon highways and other transportation modes.

Among the rail-related project applications:
• Union Pacific Railroad is seeking $8.2 million for a $16.4 million bridge replacement project;
• BNSF Railway Co. is seeking nearly $4 million for a $4.9 million Portland intermodal facility improvement project;
• Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad is seeking $4.56 million for a $5.7 million rail improvement project;
• Portland & Western Railroad Inc. is seeking $970,430 for a $1.28 million rail improvement project in Marion County and another $427,332 for a $534,165 Rainier siding extension;
• Willamette Valley Railway Co. is seeking $904,000 for bridge repairs costing $1.1 million;
• Roseburg Forest Products Co. is seeking $4 million for an $8.8 million UP spur expansion;
• Fuel Logistics L.L.C. is seeking $1.2 million for a $3 million rail offload project in Eugene;
• the Port of Umatilla is seeking $1.63 million for a $6.4 million multi-modal marine freight transfer facility; and
• Lake Railway L.L.C. is seeking $768,000 for a $960,000 rail relay project’s first phase.

The transit-related project applicants include the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, which is seeking $736,480 for East 181st MAX Station safety and security improvements costing $1.2 million; and the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments, which is seeking $2.5 million for the $3.5 million Dalles Transit Center.