The region's competitive advantage in world trade could be endangered, causing the loss of jobs, decline in farm income and other significant economic disruptions. Remember, the price of many essentials is directly affected by the cost of transporting them. And the barge industry's remarkable efficiency holds down the price. Hand in Hand Barge transportation of grain to international markets relieves significant rail congestion in the lower Columbia River ports. Grain hauling must be done very rapidly, and every year a wheat crop must be delivered in no more than three weeks.
Timing is crucial, and rail congestion is severe.
Recently, an unprecedented joint venture has been initiated between a railroad, a major grain company and a Columbia-Snake system barge company. This unique cooperative facility will provide the railroad's wheat and barley shippers east of the Rocky Mountains with an alternative route to reach the terminal operators on the lower Columbia, with the same rates as rail movement. Once the facility is in operation, rail cars will be released faster to handle additional grain shipments. Officials with the rail company expect to save about four days for every rail car that unloads at Pasco, rather than traveling to the congested Portland port areas. The barge line's 3500 ton capacity barges will service the new facility, each loading the equivalent of 35 rail cars.