Date:
Monday, September 24, 2007
Contact:
Kevin Jeffers, Capital Projects Manager: (360) 705-7982
Andrew Wood, Deputy Director, State Rail & Marine: (360) 705-7938
OLYMPIA
–The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking proposals from interested parties committed to promoting economic development through the advancement of freight rail activities.
“The goal of the Rail Bank is to assist with the funding of smaller capital rail projects,” said Scott Witt, State Rail & Marine Director. “By making these funds available, the legislature is helping to improve freight movement by rail throughout the state.”
Railroads, port districts, rail districts, private companies and local governments are eligible to compete for Rail Bank project funds. Project funds will be interest free loans. Applications for grants are also welcome as the ability to make grants as well as loans my change during the period of the application. Applicants will compete for $2.5 million total for 2007-2009 projects. Funding for the Rail Bank may increase to $5 million in future biennium.
An organization can receive up to $250,000 for rail capital projects, and must be matched by at least 20 percent of funds from other sources. Project examples include:
- Development of strategic multimodal consolidation centers
- Purchase of rail rolling stock
- Improvements and/or additions to terminals, yards, roadway buildings, fuel stations, railroad wharves or docks,
- Communication operating system improvements and/or additions
- Siding track, railroad grading, or tunnel bore improvements/modifications
- Bridges, trestles, culverts or other elevated or submerged structures
WSDOT staff will conduct a series of free workshops to help potential applicants with their proposal. Examples of completed applications and cost benefit models will be available as well as staff members to answer any questions. Workshops are scheduled across the state at the following locations:
Vancouver & Union Gap: October 1
Spokane & Wenatchee: October 2
Tacoma: October 5
Mount Vernon: October 15
Advanced registration is required for participation in the workshops. Interested organizations can sign up for a workshop and/or request a proposal packet by contacting rail@wsdot.wa.gov , or (360) 705-7900.
Proposals must be post-marked no later than October 25, 2007. Proposals may be submitted electronically to: rail@wsdot.wa.gov, or by mail: WSDOT, Director of State Rail & Marine, P.O. Box 47407, Olympia, WA 98504-7407. They may not be submitted by fax. WSDOT will provide the Washington State Legislature with a prioritized list of projects by December 1, 2007. If approved, the funds will be available during 2008.
The Washington State Legislature created the Rail Capital Program in April. Additional information is available on WSDOT’s Web site at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/freight/RailBankApplication.htm
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