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Should Taxes Fund Railroad Improvements in WA State? by Steve Wilhelm Puget Sound Business Journal, June 19, 2009

Seattle, Tacoma ports consider paying to upgrade private freight system

Presidents of Puget Sound ports want to tackle what they consider the ports' next big challenge: insufficient railroad capacity across the state to handle cargo.

Here's the problem: They might have to ask local taxpayers to help improve private rail lines in areas far outside King and Pierce counties.

It's something we need to look at," Port of Tacoma Commission President Clare Petrich said, when asked about the possibility.

Seattle Port Commission President Bill Bryant, clearly uncomfortable on this subject during an interview, said it was too early to take a position about whether the port might help to pay for such projects on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BN) railroad line. But he was adamant about the need.