Posted on July 28, 2025
The State of Oregon has allocated $100 million to develop a new intermodal port at Coos Bay, Ore., a project that could significantly boost traffic on the scenic short line between there and Eugene.
The $100 million will help dredge a shipping channel into the Port of Coos Bay to permit larger ships to unload containers there. Once unloaded, the containers will be transferred onto rail cars and transported to the Union Pacific interchange at Eugene via the Coos Bay Rail Line. The Coos Bay Rail Line is 134 miles long and was once part of the Southern Pacific’s vast branchline network in western Oregon.
“This project is an investment in rural Oregon,” said Melissa Cribbins, executive director of the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port. “Rural Oregon has felt left behind for a very long time when it comes to opportunities, and we have to reinvest not only in infrastructure but in employment opportunities.”
While sizeable, the grant from the state is still only a fraction of the projected cost of the $2.3 billion project.
