Oregon Public Broadcasting

State and federal officials are trying to help reopen a contentious stretch of rail line that operators shut down last fall due to safety concerns.  The line is between Coos Bay and Eugene.

Last week the Oregon Transportation Commission authorized redistributing $4 million originally allocated for bridge repairs on that line.  That money will help the Port of Coos Bay in its effort to purchase the stretch of rail from Florida-based conglomerate RailAmerica.

Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio followed suit Monday by reallocating $8 million in a federal transporation bill to aid the Port's effort.  That bill has yet to go before the House and Senate.

Port of Coos Bay spokesman Martin Callery says freight that normally would go by rail is on the roads, and that is affecting the entire transportation network.

Martin Callery: "All of those truckloads are impacting our highways, and with fuel costs the way they are and everything else it's real tough to keep down the impacts on our highway system."

Callery said one rail car is the equivalent of at least four truckloads.

He said the repairs necessary to reopen the line are extensive. Estimates range as high as $27 million.