Gluesenkamp Perez Helps Secure $26.3M to Expand Rail Capacity at Port of Kalama

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Sens. Patty Murray (WA) and Maria Cantwell (WA), helped secure a $26,323,286 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s CRISI Program to expand rail capacity to the Port of Kalama’s TEMCO Export Grain Terminal.

The funding will add four miles of rail, which will allow the port to store two loaded and two empty trains simultaneously and increase the efficiency of loading grain from rail to ship by up to 30 percent. In April, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez wrote to the Department of Transportation in support of the project.

Last year, the Port of Kalama was the number one exporter of wheat in the United States, number one exporter of soybeans on the West Coast, and seventeenth greatest volume exporter in the country.

“By investing in rail capacity at the Port of Kalama, we’re going to help grain move more efficiently and boost market access for Washington producers,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “With small family farms facing increasing challenges, I’ll keep fighting to bring home federal dollars to expand opportunities for growers, support local jobs, and rebuild our rural and agricultural economies.”

“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 Port Commission President Randy Sweet. “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.”

In March, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez secured $500,000 for the Port of Longview to expand an industrial rail corridor and $4,116,279 for the Port of Chehalis to construct a grain storage and transloading facility for local farmers to move product via rail.

An interactive map of community investments supported by the Congresswoman can be found at gluesenkampperez.house.gov/invest.