Port Commissioners Ponder Railroad Lease

DAYTON – At their meeting on March 9, Port of Columbia Commissioners heard from port manager Jennie Dickinson that progress is being made to turn rail operations for the Palouse and Coulee City short rail over to Frontier Rail, LLC.

Dickinson said the current rail operator, Watco, is completely willing to turn rail operations over to Frontier, but that the process is still in legal review.

Dickinson said there are 39 miles of rail, with eight bridges and their approaches, for the new railroad operator to maintain. There are also crossings and farm leases to take into consideration when drawing...