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9/24/2025
The Port of Benton in Richland, Washington, has improved its railroad track to the Class 1 category, which allows freight trains to operate at up to 10 mph and with fewer weight restrictions.
The port's rail line spans from a Union Pacific Railroad mainline in Kennewick to the north end of the Horn Rapids Industrial Park. Since 2015, the port has been revitalizing the track. The recent replacement of five grade crossings and the installation of 3,400 new rail ties have resulted in the removal of restrictions on the type and number of rail cars on the tracks, Port of Benton officials said in a press release.
Additionally, the port is in the process of contracting for a $9.56 million federal grant through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. Combined with $2.4 million in matching funds from the port, the grant will pay for the costs to replace 4 miles of undersized track, upgrade two crossings and install roughly 9,000 ties.
Those upgrades are slated for completion by the end of 2027. Once completed, the track classification will increase to Class 2 status, enabling train speeds of up to 25 mph.
"This investment marks a transformative moment for our region’s infrastructure," said Diahann Howard, Port of Benton executive director. "We’re not only improving safety and efficiency but also laying the groundwork for future economic growth."