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Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee works on regional and local transportation strategies that affect the region’s trade competitiveness. Its activities include organizing briefings, conferences, and meetings with lawmakers to advocate for federal and regional funding of aviation, rail, marine, and road infrastructure projects.

Chair: Tom Zelenka, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.
Vice Chair: Rick Finn, Port of Portland

Fiscal Year 2007 Statement of Transportation Policy Positions

Relieving congestion, highway investments: PNITA supports the implementation of the recommendations of the Portland-Vancouver I-5 Trade and Transportation Partnership as a comprehensive collaborative approach to reducing freight and passenger traffic congestion. Such congestion threatens the vital role that I-5 plays as an economic artery for PNW economies. Widening I-5 through Delta Park, improving the Columbia Boulevard interchange, and a new Columbia River bridge will significantly improve the flow of freight through the Portland region. Additionally, though removed from the I-5 Trade and Transportation Partnership discussion, the I-5/I-84 interchange must be addressed. This interchange is the most congested interchange in Oregon, amounting to over 2 million hours of delay annually.

PNITA specifically supports the combined federal funding requests from the Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation to support the Environmental Impact Statement needed to advance the Columbia River Crossing project. Contact: Tom Zelenka, Schnitzer Steel Industries - tzelenka@schn.com or 503.323.2821.

Maintaining Maritime Transportation: The vitality of much of our regional economy is directly linked to the capacity and efficiency of waterborne transportation on the Columbia, Willamette, and Snake Rivers. To sustain that waterway infrastructure, PNITA supports the appropriation of $40 million in FY2007 to continue the Columbia River channel deepening project. In addition, PNITA requests funds for the Corps of Engineers to complete the most urgent repairs to the jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River and to study the long-term rehabilitation of the jetties. Finally, shoaling in certain locations on the Willamette River is beginning to hinder the movement of cargo ships to and from marine terminals. The Corps of Engineers needs to dredge the shoals to the authorized channel depth of 40 feet. PNITA supports funding in FY2007 for the Corps to plan and perform this long-overdue maintenance dredging on the Willamette River. Contact: Rick Finn, Port of Portland, rick.finn@portofportland.com, 503.944.7045.

Ensuring viable rail service: Farms and businesses in the Pacific Northwest require reliable, efficient rail service to compete successfully in regional, national, and foreign markets. Some products can be shipped only by rail, and rail transportation provides cost savings and environmental benefits over other transportation modes. However, the regional rail network suffers from infrastructure deficiencies, equipment shortages, and operational disagreements between the mainline and shortline railroads. As a result, many shippers do not have consistent access to high-quality, reliable rail service. PNITA urges Members of Congress to support federal measures that will improve rail capacity, efficiency, and service both within the Pacific Northwest and between the region and the rest of the United States. Contact: Gary Cardwell, NW Container, gcardwell@nwcontainer.com, 503.290.2214 or Jim Beall, Ball Janik LLP, jbeall@bjllp.com, 503.228.2525.

For more information contact Doug Badger at doug@westernstrategies.net.