Coos Bay port wins federal grant for rail tie, ballast project

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay has received a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for tie and ballast work on the Coos Bay Rail Line (CBRL), which serves the port.

Issued through the federal Port Infrastructure and Development Program (PIDP), the grant will fund a project to replace crossties and resurface the main line, sidings, an industrial lead, rail yard and spur tracks with ballast along the majority of the 121-mile line stretching inland to Eugene, port officials said in a press release.

The project will be instrumental in upgrading track infrastructure, which will improve the railroad's efficiency, safety and reliability. The work also enables the rail line to accommodate an increase in train speed.

Port officials will soon solicit bids for construction services.

The CBRL serves industrial freight shippers and interchanges with Union Pacific Railroad.