Railroad applies for grant to build repair facility

The Wallowa-Union Railroad’s plan to build a rail repair facility is among 11 projects to be looked at April 1 when the Northeast and Southeast Area Commissions on Transportation meet in Baker City.

The commissions are prioritizing projects for the Connect Oregon III program, which will provide $100 million statewide for rail, public transit, air and marine port projects.

The Wallowa-Union Railroad project is one of 11 being considered in Eastern Oregon, and is the only project proposed for Union and Wallowa counties.

The shop will facilitate relocation and expansion of an existing business to service and repair locomotives, according the railroad’s application.

The application also says the project will include a multi-modal transportation hub and “park and ride” lot to serve excursion train passengers, transit bus passengers and bicycle riders.

The Baker City meeting will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oregon Trail Electric Co-Op meeting room, 4005 23rd St.

All interested parties are invited to attend. Time has been set aside for public comment.

Following the meeting, the southeast commission will prioritize projects for Malheur, Grant and Harney counties.

The northeast commission plans to prioritize projects for Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Baker counties in a meeting 9 a.m. at Oregon Department of Transportation Region 5 Headquarters, 3012 Island Ave., La Grande.

If necessary, a second NEACT meeting will be held April 12 at the same time and location.

The northeast and southeastcommissions will combine again April 26 to prioritize all the Eastern Oregon projects. That meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the OTEC meeting room in Baker City.

For more information on the meetings, contact ODOT Region 5 Public Information Officer Tom Strandberg, 541-963-1330, or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information on the Connect Oregon III program, visit www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/CO.