Murray to discuss rail car pool Monday

Farm bill, ag issues on topic following roundtable discussion

MOSES LAKE — As the long-anticipated Produce Rail Car Pool approaches realization, one of the foremost backers of the efforts will visit Moses Lake to discuss its progress.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray will hold a press conference on Monday, at 12:30 p.m. in the ATEC Conference Center on the Big Bend Community College campus in Moses Lake. The press conference will be followed by a roundtable discussion on the farm bill and agricultural issues with Murray. The media and the public are invited to the event.

"We grow the world's best potatoes in Washington, but too often our potatoes are stuck on loading docks because there aren't enough rail cars to move them," Murray, D-Wash., said in a press release. "That's why I've fought to bring home $2 million to help lease rail cars so we can get our potatoes to market."

Murray secured the original funding of $1 million in 2004 for the program after the Washington State L egislature had approved oversight by the Washington State Department of Transportation. Murray obtained a further $1 million last year.

"We welcome this opportunity to personally thank Sen. Murray for her efforts on behalf of perishable shippers in Washington," said Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, which pushed for the program. "Transportation issues have become increasingly critical for potato, onion and other perishable commodities in this state."

"The senator has a continued and strong interest in the issues of our commodity shippers, proven by her support of this exciting pilot program," said Barbara Ivanov, WSDOT Director of Freight Strategy and Policy.

The Produce Rail Car Pool bill of 2003 and start-up funding for the program were shepherded through the Washington State Legislature by Sen. Joyce Mulliken, R-Moses Lake, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D- Camano Island, and Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and Rep. Shirley Hankins, R-Richland.

Perishable and frozen traffic on the BNSF line, Washington's dominant railroad and car supplier, has been reaching record highs, leading to a tight car supply at the peaks of the potato and onion harvests. Bankruptcies and lack of drivers in the trucking industry, as well as recent issues with barge capacity on the Columbia River, have put further pressure on transportation.

— Staff report