:'-'DT ,A;: -jr." •rr'^OT'Tiri'i 

www.columbiabasinherald.com 

fSre/m/i^ ^/'a^/U aru / ,9/afa//?i) ^au/U^ t^a-f'/f/ 

RE: Support of ARRA Surface Transportation (TIGER) Grant for the Port of Moses 

Lake for the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project 

To whom it may concern, 

I am writing in support of tlie Port of l\/Ioses Lal<e's TIGER Grant Funding Application to 

USDOT for the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project. 

The Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project is a critical economic development and 

freight mobility project in Washington State that will enhance and improve rail access to 

vital industries in the northern Columbia Basin area near Moses Lake in Washington 

State. 

The Port of Moses Lake recently received $2 million in funding from the Washington 

State Legislature for the project (http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS157204+30-

Apr-2009+PRN20090430). However, while the funding that the Washington State 

Legislature provided is a good start. Federal funding is also needed for the project. 

In particular, the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project will have the following 

positive benefits to Washington State and Pacific Northwest region: 

• It will extend and enhance railroad access to vital industries in the Northern 

Columbia Basin area. 

o A new rail segment (Segment 2) would be constructed to extend rail service to the Industrial 

Park on the east side of the Grant County International Airport. 

o A new rail segment (Segment 1) would be constructed from the Grant County International 

Airport to Wheeler (near 1-90). 

o An existing rail segment (Segment 3) would be refurbished and improved. 

o In the longer term, a rail segment (Segment 5) would be constructed from Moses Lal<e to 

Ephrata. 

• It will greatly improve freight mobility and economic development opportunities in 

the Northern Columbia Basin area. 

• It will eliminate at least 12 at-grade rail crossings within the City of Moses Lake, 
S«!*=^ 

< ^ „ , 

www.columbiabasinlieraid.com 

rv^/?y/7^ ^/'a/i l a/iof^ ,Wf/nm-i) &oa/U^ t^m ^ 

and open up waterfront property for trails and other tourism developments. 

o An existing rail segment (Segment 4) would be converted into a trail. 

The proposed new rail segment around the Grant County International Airport would 

provide critically needed rail service to the Industrial Area and would greatly improve 

freight mobility in the Columbia Basin. In addition, there is a major company in the 

Industrial Area that has indicated it will have to move to another country if Segment 2 is 

not funded and constructed. This company provides family-wage jobs to 140 people 

residing in the upper Columbia Basin. As a result, the potential loss of jobs could cause 

a devastating economic impact to Moses Lake and surrounding communities if the 

proposed Segment 2 rail line is not completed and Segment 3 is not upgraded. 

The Grant County International Airport Industrial Area (north of Moses Lake) is a very 

desirable industrial development location in Washington State, owing to plenty of 

available industrial land, easy access to Highway 17 and Interstate 90, and some of the 

most competitive electrical power rates in the nation. During the past few years, the 

Grant County International Airport Industrial Area has competed for several major 

national projects such as the Boeing 787 project, a General Dynamics Amphibious 

Assault Vehicle project, a large ethanol project, a grain storage and shipping project and 

a Western Container (owned by Coca Cola) bottle manufacturing project, among others. 

For each of these projects, the Grant County International Airport made the final list of 

sites; however, these projects ultimately went to other locations as improved rail access 

into the Airport's Industrial Area was listed as a critical issue. 

As a result, we are writing to urge USDOT to award a TIGER Grant to the Port of Moses 

Lake for the "Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project". 

Thank you for your consideration of this request. 

Regards, 

Harlan J Beagley 

Publisher CEO 

Columbia Basin Herald daily Newspaper 

Columbiabasinherald.com