Nearly 10 years on, rail centers still sit mostly idle

By Julia Shumway | Editor

“Unfortunately, they ran into some operational challenges.” — Erik Havig, statewide policy and planning manager at the Oregon Department of Transportation, with a bit of an understatement on Oregon’s intermodal rail facilities that sucked up $70 million in taxpayer funds and have yet to fulfill promises to reduce truck emissions, boost agricultural exports and save farmers money.

Senior reporter Alex Baumhardt first reported on the money sinks that are the Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Center and the Treasure Valley Reload Center in Nyssa more than a year ago. Little has changed since then.

Also in today's edition:

Progressive groups propose wealth tax for 2028 ballot
Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama won’t seek another term as leader
Columnist Randy Stapilus on the congressional race inundating Oregon airwaves

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2 Oregon state-backed rail projects cost more than $70 million. They’re still mostly idle.

By Alex Baumhardt

The Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Center in Albany sits idle off of Interstate 5. State and Linn County leaders promised it would get trucks off the highway and move hay and grass seed to Puget Sound ports by rail. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

It’s been nearly 10 years since the Oregon Legislature approved a $5.3 billion package of taxes and fees to fund transportation over the next decade, including $50 million in grants to build two rail shipping centers in the Willamette Valley and eastern Oregon that promised to reduce truck emissions, boost agricultural exports and save farmers money.

They continue to sit mostly idle, with those lofty promises unfulfilled.

Progressive groups, unions announce wealth tax initiative aimed at 2028 Oregon ballot

By Shaanth Nanguneri

The Oregon Capitol front entrance. A newly-filed ballot initiative for the 2028 general election could raise taxes for the wealthiest Oregonians while cutting them for low-income residents. (Photo by Laura Tesler/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Aiming to make up for lost revenue from federal benefit cuts, a coalition of powerful Oregon advocacy groups announced Thursday that they will launch a signature-gathering campaign for the November 2028 election to approve a wealth tax on some of the state’s richest households while cutting taxes for low-income residents.

Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama will not seek another term leading caucus

By Shaanth Nanguneri

Sen. Kayse Jama, D-Portland, talks during a legislative preview on Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo by Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

As Senate Democrats begin to weigh who should lead their caucus heading into next year’s long legislative session, their current leader has taken his name out of the running.

Commentary: Storms across the Columbia River: The Washington congressional race blanketing Oregon airwaves

By Randy Stapilus

When I sat down for a recent supper in a restaurant in Yamhill, the TV set on the side wall was showing Portland-area news. Campaign ads dominated the commercial breaks, as is normal for October of an election year.