Senate Transportation Committee January 25, 2011 Eric Johnson Executive Director Washington Public Ports Association Larry Paulson Executive Director Port of Vancouver, USA

Washington’s Port System is Unique  We have more ports than any other state, by a long ways (75)  Our ports engage in more types of activity than in most states  Our Commissioners are elected locally, not appointed as in most states.  Our port system is the largest locally-controlled port system in the world  Our origins began 100 years ago, as we fought to re- claim the waterfront for the public

Our Ports Represent Community Investment in Long-Term Assets  We are fundamentally about community control of important assets such as waterfronts, airports and industrial areas.  Ports build, lease and operate facilities that foster trade and economic development.  Ports provide four basic types of facilities:  Marine Terminals  Marinas  Industrial Facilities  Airports

Marine Terminal Ports  Bellingham  Anacortes  Everett *  Seattle *  Tacoma *  Olympia  Port Angeles  Grays Harbor  Longview  Kalama  Vancouver (The above 11 are deep draft)  Pasco **  Clarkston **  Walla Walla **  Whitman County ** * Container Port ** Barge Terminal

The Pacific Northwest’s Mainline Rail Lines Source: WSDOT and WPPA Marine Cargo Forecast Legend __ BNSF __ UP

Key Challenges  We have competing gateways, especially for Mid-west cargo

Connecting to Markets  Our Businesses, growers and waterfront workers increasingly depend upon world-class freight services  We Need:  Reliable rail, truck, barge and ship services  Competitive rates  Unified freight investment effort that focuses on strategic projects and corridors

Key Competitive Pressures  Canadian gateways to the American heartland.  Panama canal widening.  East Coast and Gulf investments in ports and rail corridors.

Canada’s Gateway & Corridor Initiative Targets US Midwest Cities

Eastern U.S. and Gulf Ports are Making Strategic Investments for Competitiveness:  Deeper shipping channels  Larger terminals  Inland corridor improvements Houston Mobile New York Jacksonville Jasper County Savannah Charleston Norfolk

Key Assets  Strong bulk cargo growth and potential for more.  Private sector investment has been significant.

Priority Investments  Rail capacity  Freight mobility projects developed by FMSIB  Key big projects: SR167, SR509, Columbia River Crossing

Legend __ % capacity __ 50-69% capacity __ less than 50% capacity Priority Investments For Relieving Rail Congestion  Siding extensions at Mount Vernon and Stanwood, new siding at Swift  East marginal Way Grade Separation and Duwamish Rail Corridor at Seattle  Clearing of Stampede Pass to accommodate double-stack rail cars and relieve congestion on Stevens Pass  Blakeslee Junction at Centralia  High Speed Crossover Plan from Nisqually to Centralia  Point Defiance Bypass from Tacoma to Nisqually  Bullfrog Junction Realignment at Tacoma  Partial third main line from Kalama to Kelso  Vancouver Freight Rail Bypass  Vancouver West Freight Access Project Source: WSDOT and WPPA Marine Cargo Forecast

A National Corridor Strategy  A Pacific NW Corridor strategy is necessary if we are to compete in a global economy.  Early discussions have started but have not yet coalesced.

Eric Johnson, Executive Director Washington Public Ports Association PO Box 1518 Olympia, WA Larry Paulson, Executive Director Port of Vancouver, USA 3103 Lower River Road Vancouver, WA Questions?