Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon has scraped together enough savings from its transportation stimulus spending to make a new investment for rail riders. April Baer reports.

The state Department of Transportation found that many of the bids for transportation projects funded by the stimulus spending came in lower than expected.

Enough money was left to make whole a few projects that hadn't been fully funded.

ODOT Communications Director Patrick Cooney says the agency has decided to use the rest of the cash on trains.

Patrick Cooney:  "Passenger rail service cannot be funded with state highway funds due to the constitutional restrictions. So it's always a struggle for the state to fund a growing passenger demand in the state."

While the state can't spend on train operations, Cooney says, it can buy the trains themselves. So the state is shopping for a new train to run between Eugene and Portland.

The train that currently makes that trip  belongs to Washington State, and its lease will be up in a few years.

Cooney says the purchase may serve a dual purpose, showing the state's commitment to train service, and possibly planting seeds for future rail grant money.