CBRW Donates Line for Port Rail Service Restoration Project
CBRW on March 12 announced its rail line donation, which represents Segment 3 of the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project (NCBRP). It is an existing, currently inactive rail line that extends from south of GCIA and east of Patton Boulevard to North Stratford Road in Moses Lake (see map top). This donation effectively connects five miles of Wheeler Corridor’s rail (Segment 1 of NCBRP) with rail still to be constructed near GCIA (Segment 2 of NCBRP). The donation also includes an operation agreement between Port of Moses Lake and CBRW, which intersects with BNSF’s Lakeside Subdivision line (running between Spokane and Pasco, Wash.) and traverses the Columbia Basin, hauling thousands of loads annually of agricultural and industrial commodities and other cargo for 60 active rail shippers (see map below).
“The NCBRP aims to restore vital rail service lost in 2009, connecting Moses Lake, GCIA, and 1,250 acres of industrial land in the GCIA Employment Center,” according to the Port, which offers access not only to CBRW but also BNSF. “The NCBRP route bypasses Downtown Moses Lake and provides rail access to over 1,000 acres along the Wheeler Industrial Corridor. By offering a cost-effective transportation solution, the project seeks to attract new industries and support existing businesses and agricultural producers in rural Central Washington, enhancing shipping operations to Pacific Northwest ports and the Midwest.”
The NCBRP is said to have received both state and federal funding.
“We are thankful to Columbia Basin Railroad for their donation of Segment 3,” Port of Moses Lake Executive Director Dan Roach said. “This donation will play a pivotal role in helping the Port to enhance the rail infrastructure, as well as to support industrial and economic development of Moses Lake and the area.”
“We are proud to support the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project by donating Segment 3 of our rail line to the Port of Moses Lake,” CBRW President and CEO Brig Temple said. “This project will not only enhance rail connectivity but also contribute to the economic vitality of the Moses Lake area by improving access to vital industries and creating new job opportunities.”
