The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay said last week it had been awarded $25 million in grant funding to develop the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP).
The funding, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, will support environmental compliance and permitting as well as the design and engineering work for the PCIP. The funds will enable the port to move forward with its infrastructure plans.
“The INFRA grant is a game-changer for the Port of Coos Bay and the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Project,” Melissa Cribbins, executive director of the PCIP, said. “Oregon’s Congressional delegation has been relentless in their pursuit of dollars for the PCIP, and we are so thankful for their advocacy. This federal grant is a watershed moment for the region and adds the federal government to the growing list of critical supporters for one of the impactful rural economic development projects in state history.”
The PCIP will be the first fully ship-to-rail port facility on the U.S. West Coast. It will leverage Coos Bay’s location and deep water access to create a modern intermodal container terminal. The terminal will ease congestion and free up bottlenecks, officials said. Additionally, the project will streamline logistics by allowing cargo to transfer between ships and rail which will also reduce congestion and lower businesses’ transportation costs.
Officials said the port’s connection to both the Coos Bay and to rail lines offers it direct access to national and international markets, making it a critical trade gateway for the Northwest.