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Omnibus Bill Includes Funds for Port of Ridgefield Rail Overpass Project
12/29/2009 12:00:00 AM
Omnibus Bill Includes Funds for Port of Ridgefield Rail Overpass Project
The Port of Ridgefield’s Pioneer Street rail overpass project will receive $974,000 in additional funding for fiscal year 2010. The funds were part of a $447 billion omnibus bill approved by the US Senate last Sunday and signed by President Obama on Wednesday.
“This is great news for the Port and the City of Ridgefield”, said Randy Mueller, director of business development for the Port. “These funds will allow the Port to take the project to a shovel ready status and put us in an excellent position for additional funding as it becomes available. This is an important project that will provide a long list of benefits to the port district and this community, not the least of which will be the closure of at least two (and possibly four) at-grade railroad crossings, including the Mill Street crossing which is ranked the 5th most dangerous rail crossing in Washington State”, Mueller went on to say.
When completed, the overpass would provide access to the Lake River water front which is currently undergoing environmental cleanup and redevelopment by the port. Other benefits include: increased rail capacity, extension of the high speed rail corridor and improved access to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge which attracts over 100,000 visitors a year. Construction of the overpass may begin as early as 2011.
For more information on the project visit the Port of Ridgefield web site at portridgefield.org.
About the Port of Ridgefield
The Port of Ridgefield was formed in 1940 and is charged with bringing economic development to the greater Ridgefield area. The Port district covers approximately 57 square miles, represents over 15,000 constituents and is led by three elected commissioners: Joe Melroy, Bruce Wiseman, and Scott Hughes. The Port is currently evolved with the environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the Ridgefield waterfront, the Ridgefield I-5 interchange Ridgefield rail overpass and other projects.
Public meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Port offices located at 111 W Division St. Ridgefield WA. Meetings start at 10:00 AM. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information about the Port, visit www.portridgefield.org or:
Contact: Michael Williams
Marketing & Communications Manager
360.887.3873
mwilliams@portridgefield.org