Building on a $750,000 grant application with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Amtrak declared last week that it would match that contribution to restoring an out-of-service siding in-state.
That bit of infrastructure runs between Portland and Salem, Oregon, and would, according to the two organizations, reduce delays in the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor by improving on-time performance. The section has an issue with delays caused by freight train interference.
“Oregon’s Amtrak network operates on tracks owned, maintained, and dispatched by freight railroads,” Richard Anderson, Amtrak president and CEO, said. “Because the freight railroads make all dispatching decisions, they have a tremendous amount of influence over schedule, often prioritizing their own trains over our customers. We are thrilled to invest in the Oregon City Siding Project and further the first phase that will not only reduce delays but will contribute to the economic competitiveness of the region.”
The restoration effort will include the laying of new track, ties, and power-operated switches and switch heaters to combat winter delays caused by snowfall. ODOT, however, views this as just the beginning. It also wishes to secure funding for a separate track running an adjacent three miles between Oregon City and an existing southern siding, to create a five-mile stretch of new double-track between Portland and Salem. This, like the current project, should further reduce congestion and delays.
ODOT is sponsoring the project for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Discretionary Grants program.