By Mark Edward Nero
Construction has started on a new, 3,300 lineal foot double rail siding to support international cargo movement at the Port of Everett, the port confirmed April 13.
In February, the Port Commission awarded a $3.4 million contract to Everett-based contractor Granite Construction to complete the second phase of the port’s terminal rail enhancements to improve regional rail freight mobility and increase capacity of rail freight at the Port of Everett. The project is made possible in part, by a federal grant through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.
“The project will increase our current on-terminal rail footprint from 9,200 lineal feet to 12,500 lineal feet, and it is slated for completion in November,” the port explained in a statement. “The project also provides a critical connection that allows BNSF easier ingress and egress to the port’s shipping facilities, reducing congestion on the mainline from Seattle to Canada and east along the northern corridor.”
The Port of Everett utilizes rail to support US exports and imports, including goods from the aerospace, construction, manufacturing, energy, agricultural and forest products industries. The project will allow to efficiently transport goods from ship to shore, with cargo arriving and departing the terminals utilizing rail as well as trucks.
The use of rail service for the cargo shipments could potentially eliminate 429 million commercial truck miles off local roads and highways, the port says.
