Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces $35.9 Million Loan to Expand Freight Capacity at Port of Longview
Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has approved a $35.9 million loan to increase freight capacity at Washington State’s Port of Longview, a key project that will double the area’s rail efficiency and stimulate rural economic development.
The loan, sanctioned under the Build America Bureau, will fund Phase 1 of the Port’s Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion project in Cowlitz County. The initiative is in line with the Trump administration’s effort to strengthen the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program to enable borrowers to cover up to 49 percent of eligible costs for a project through long-term, low-interest federal loans. The steps are meant to speed up infrastructure delivery, cut costs, and attract private investment.
Delivering great American goods where they must go is a critical aspect of what we do at the Department of Transportation,” Secretary Duffy stated. “This expansion of the Port of Longview will enhance our export strength, make us safer, and unleash rural economic growth in the region. From our roads and bridges to our railroads and maritime industry, America is rebuilding due to President Trump.
The growth project will replace the existing overcrowded two-track system with six new tracks of 8,500 feet and add to existing facilities. A new six-track embankment will also set the port up for future expansion. Roads for crew access and safety upgrades are included in the plan, making freight carrier operations smoother.
The expanded corridor, once completed, is anticipated to double freight flow, eliminate the expensive delays, and enhance the efficiency of the port. It will also stimulate private investment and boost export capacity for prominent Washington products like timber and grain. Estimates have the project producing $2.8 billion in annual activity and $66 million in tax returns, a significant boost for rural economies in the region.
Dr. Morteza Farajian, Build America Bureau Executive Director, spoke to the financing model’s benefits: “By leveraging innovative financing through TIFIA, the Port of Longview has been able to accelerate the delivery of these important improvements and create new opportunities for commercial growth and economic development.”. Also, since this project was in a rural area, they were able to benefit from our Rural Projects Initiative and borrow at half of the already low U.S. Treasury interest rate, unleashing even greater value and millions of dollars in savings.”
Dan Stahl, Port of Longview CEO, was in agreement, commenting on the significance of federal funding: “The Port is thankful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for its assistance under the TIFIA loan, which will spur our Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion Project and enhance the Port’s contribution to regional economic development.”
Aside from the federal loan, the project is supported by $18.6 million in federal funding, $9 million in Washington state funds, and $9.7 million in local donations. The overall cost of the project stands at an estimated $73.3 million. Work on the construction commenced earlier this year with a goal of achieving substantial completion in 2028.
Longview Port, which has been in business since 1921, covers 835 acres on the Columbia River and is a major export terminal 66 miles from the Pacific. The initial Industrial Rail Corridor, finished in 2004, linked the port to mainline rail service through the Longview Switching Company, a joint venture between Union Pacific and BNSF railroads. The expansion seeks to capitalize on that success, gearing up the port to meet growing trade demand for decades to come.
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