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Officials at the Port of Vancouver USA in Vancouver, Wash., announced today that they have completed the Terminal 5 Unit Train Improvement project, one of many projects that are part of the larger $137 million West Vancouver Freight Access project.

The completed project adds 35,000 feet of rail capacity to Terminal 5 at the port. It will help accommodate rail service for a variety of cargoes and help decrease congestion on the main rail line by an estimated 25 percent. Trains as long as 7,500 feet will be able to use the rail.

鈥淲e are in a bit of an opportunistic position because of our proximity to the Asian Pacific market,鈥� said Curtis Shuck, director of economic development and facilities at the Port of Vancouver USA. Adding accessible rail service could help divert cargo from the Gulf to the Pacific Northwest, saving exporters time and money, he said.

To date port officials have spent $66 million on the Terminal 5 Unit Train Improvement project. A majority of the money has been spent on acquiring property, permitting and engineering. The West Vancouver Freight Access project began in 2004 and is slated for completion in 2014.

Port officials said the project will also help in their attempts to attract more private tenants to the port. This started in May when the Eugene-based Farwest Steel inquired about purchasing 22 acres at the port for a new operating facility. Representatives of Farwest noted access to rail service as one of the driving factors in the possible move.