Port partners with City of Prescott on Sidewalk Safety Project
The Port of Walla Walla is working with the City of Prescott and other community groups to enhance safe pedestrian access to the Prescott Community Swimming Pool.
The project will replace a dangerous midblock crossing on State Route 124 with a new crossing at the corner of B Street and State Route 124. Improvements include curbs, gutters and extending the sidewalk to the popular community swimming pool.
The total cost of the project is expected to be some $200,000. The Port will utilize its economic development sales tax dollars to help fund the project. Design and construction oversight services are being provided by the Washington Department of Transportation.
“The Prescott Community has been great to work with,” Port Commissioner Mike Fredrickson said. “The Port as a county-wide economic development agency has been looking for an opportunity to invest in Prescott and I hope this is the first of many more projects to come in the future.”
Four-Laning US Highway 12 Remains a Port Priority
The Port and the US Highway 12 Coalition continue efforts to secure funding to complete a four-lane highway between Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities. Two major construction phases remain.
Phase 7 is known as the Lowden/Touchet phase and is estimated to cost $126 million. The Port and coalition members continue to work with the Washington State Legislature to have this phase funded when a new state transportation package is approved.
The last phase is 8 and is referred to as the Wallula to Nine Mile Phase. It is estimated to cost approximately $250 million. The Port is currently working with our congressional delegation to get this phase listed as a Project of National and Regional Significance by the Federal Highway Administration. If successful it will improve chances for receiving federal funding.
“A four-lane highway will continue to be a top priority of the Port until all the phases have been completed,” emphasizes Port Commissioner Mike Fredrickson. “The community wants to see this happen.” |
Refrigeration equipment maintenance company opens in Dodd Road Park
Ask Midlands Carrier Transicold people about their new presence in the Port of Walla Walla’s Dodd Road Business Park and their response is likely to be “good service starts here.”
The company, started in 1986, specializes in service and maintenance of refrigerated equipment...like the railroad cars owned by nearby Railex and Union Pacific. In fact, it’s the growth of that business that prompted MCT officials to establish a service, maintenance and parts center at Wallula.
According to Kurt White, Midlands site manager, the Omaha, NE based company has operated in nearby Hermiston, OR for the past eight years. With the recent growth generated by Railex, it became more and more difficult...and costly...to manage the business from a remote location. |
“We were spending increasing amounts of time transporting personnel and parts with our staff in Hermiston,” White explains.
“And because Railex does things fast, we need to be ready to move fast. Our new Wallula facility will help us do that,” he adds.
The new building will have service bays on site for rail cars and trucks. In addition, future expansion could offer rentals of truck/trailer units and related equipment.
As many as nine employees will be
involved at Wallula and Hermiston to meet the needs of MCT’s customers at both sites.
“We plan to continue growing any way we can,” White emphasizes. “It’s part of our commitment to the pledge...“Great Service Starts Here!” |
Midland Carrier Transicold service center under construction, November 2014. (Photo by Donna Lasater.)
Port expands rail system in Dodd Road Industrial Park to accomodate Railex Wine Services Center
Port of Walla Walla Commission President Ron Dunning said the on-site rail project included a 1.5 mile length of tracks along with accompanying rail switches and gravel service roads.
Dunning explained that the Port gained funding for the $2.7 million rail system expansion through the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) and the Washington State Department of Commerce Job Bill. |
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