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Recent Progress
The Seneca Green Giant asparagus cannery relocated away from Dayton several years ago and put its plant up for sale. The Port of Columbia County located prospective replacements to purchase the plant and begin operations. The yard rehabilitation project was designed to ensure rail service to a replacement business. However, Seneca withdrew the property from the market, and the prospective operators lost any incentive to locate in the area. Alternative projects were reviewed but could not be justified. Although there is a general need to upgrade the yard tracks, the rail operator can continue to provide foreseeable service at the current level.
The basis for the project no longer exists; however, there continues to be a substantive need to upgrade the Blue Mountain line. Accordingly, the WSDOT will recommend that the funds be moved to a general rail rehabilitation project authorized for the 2007-2009 biennium.
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