Largest grant ever received by the Port will expand rail lines leading to the Temco grain elevator, cementing Kalama’s status as a top U.S. exporter of grain
Kalama, WA – The Port of Kalama’s TEMCO Rail Expansion Project received a huge boost on Friday, as Port officials announced receipt of a $26.3 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Rail Administration (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
When complete, the TEMCO Project will add over 25,000 linear feet of tracks to the Port of Kalama rail system, increasing Temco’s loading efficiency by an estimated 25-30 percent in the direct loading of grain from rail to ship. The additional rail capacity will enable continuous ship loading without the need to reposition inbound rail cars, which currently causes a 7-hour delay in the loading process. The Temco project will also relieve congestion on the larger national rail system.
“Port Commissioners and staff have worked for years to secure grant funds for this project, and we are incredibly grateful for the support of Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez and their respective staff in capturing this important infrastructure investment for Southwest Washington,” said Randy Sweet, Port Commission President. “We’d also like to acknowledge and thank the Soy Transportation Coalition and its many American farmers for their support and contribution to this project.”
The Port looks forward to working with our Temco partners and the Federal Rail Administration to complete this project for the benefit of our economy and job market. This investment will further solidify the Port of Kalama as the top volume exporter in the Pacific Northwest.
Temco is a joint venture between CHS and Cargill. The company—who leases and operates the facility from the Port—exports feed grains, oilseeds, and wheat to Asia-Pacific markets and employs 125 people in Kalama.
Read the joint press release from U.S. Senator Patty Murray and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
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About the Port of Kalama
The Port of Kalama sits on the Columbia River in Southwest Washington, immediately off Interstate 5—situated in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, just 30 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon, and approximately 120 miles south of Seattle, Washington. Port of Kalama’s industrial area includes five miles of riverfront property adjacent to the 43′ federally maintained deep draft navigation channel of the Columbia River. The Port is served by the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads. This excellent transportation infrastructure makes the Port of Kalama ideally suited for businesses of all kinds.
