Document text
http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 18, 2007 Jackson County transportation improvements urged by panel Deepening the Coos Bay shipping channel and upgrading the railroad between Coos Bay and Eugene have been named the No. 1 priority by a study group seeking to expand southwestern Oregon's economy. Also high on the list were increasing capacity on Highway 62 between Medford and White City, improving the Siskiyou railroad from Eugene to California and upgrading the Medford airport, which is under way. The recommendations were contained in a report developed by an ad-hoc committee organized to assess the region's transportation system and recommend improvements needed to spur development. Dubbed the Southwest Economic Transportation Team, the members met for 18 months. The team included legislators, regional transit advocates, community leaders, state highway officials and private citizens. Funding and staffing were provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Advertisement Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Point, organized and unofficially chaired the study. Members included two Jackson County legislators, Reps. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, and George Gilman, R-Medford, and Stuart Foster of Medford, chairman of the Oregon Transportation Commission. With the completion of the report, committee members are beginning public discussions of the findings along with the potential benefits in terms of economic expansion. A move is already underway in the Legislature to secure funding for the Coos Bay channel project. Bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate seeking $60 million to begin dredging. The money would come from the sale of lottery bonds. A push will be made for improvements to Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad's Coos Bay and Siskiyou lines under ConnectOregon II, a bill authorizing another $100 million to $150 million bond issue for rail, air, marine and transit infrastructure, Buckley said. "There is more hope now than we've had in a good long time," Gilman wrote in the summary. "Growth will happen. We can see increases in Asian trade markets ... for many years to come." The summary also includes benefits to the region in terms of revenue and employment growth, which Morgan believes will constitute a powerful selling tool. "We are hoping that people will see the value of these projects when they study the charts showing potential revenue and employment gains from the projects," she said. Both Buckley and Morgan said a major international container company has expressed an interest in Coos Bay as a port of entry for container cargo and has sent representatives to talk with local port officials. They declined to identify the company. Morgan believes that if Oregon begins the dredging project now, it will show the firm that the state is serious. If — and that might be a big if — the company commits, direct investments could be upwards of $670 million in dredging and off-loading facilities, with another $120 million to $140 million in rail upgrades to handle container traffic, committee members said. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary