FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2015
CONTACT: Kurt Hammond, Senior Information Officer - (360) 786-7794
Governor signs Rep. Manweller's legislation to transfer railroad to Port of Royal Slope
Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation today that would authorize the transfer of the Royal Slope railroad right-of-way from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to the Port of Royal Slope.
Rep. Matt Manweller sponsored House Bill 1586 in an effort to get more working rail lines in eastern Washington.
"We need to continue to look at improving and expanding our rail system to get our agricultural products to market. This legislation could assist Royal City in being a part of that in the near future, increasing business and economic development in the region," said Manweller, R-Ellensburg. "The port also deserves the opportunity to make this work. They have been working for a number of years to rehabilitate this rail line and make it operational."
The transfer would be made at no cost to the port and the port must contract with an operator. If there is no operator on the line for any continuous five-year period, the right-of-way and railroad would revert back to the WSDOT.
The bill passed both chambers unanimously during the legislative session.
PHOTO CAPTION: The governor signs Rep. Matt Manweller's House Bill 1586.
For more information about Rep. Manweller, visit: www.representativemattmanweller.com.
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Rep. Manweller's media:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
461 John L. O'Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
