Congressman Kurt Schrader today announced numerous grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help fund various planned infrastructure projects in Oregon including Canby Ferry Rehabilitation, Pacific Coast Scenic Byway Agate Beach Wayside Improvements, North Fork Road Safety Improvements and Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination.

"These grants come at a pivotal point in Oregon's economic recovery," Rep. Schrader said. "Continuing to improve the quality and safety of our transportation corridors means jobs for Oregonians, increased commerce for our businesses and enhanced livability for our communities. These kind of high return investments are the ones our federal government needs to be making as our nation's economy works to strengthen."

"With the unexpected closure of the Willamette Falls Locks, the historic Canby Ferry could not be transported on the river to Portland for upgrades needed to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly," said Cam Gilmour, Clackamas County Director of Transportation and Development. "Thanks to Congressman Schrader and the Oregon congressional delegation, the ferry can now be transported around the Locks so the needed work can be accomplished and the Ferry can continue to serve the tens of thousands of commuters, residents and visitors who ride it every year. Congressman Schrader’s assistance arrived just in time as the ferry work will begin right after the busy summer season."

"I want to thank Congressman Schrader for his support of the North Fork Road Complete Corridor Safety Improvement project," said Sam Brentano, Marion County Commissioner. "Completion of the project will enhance the quality of both the residents and recreational users of the North Fork Road corridor. A number of small towns along the Santiam Highway (OR 22) corridor depend on the business that is generated and supported by both forest-management activities and recreational uses in the area.  I'm glad to see this important safety and economic development project was selected by the Department of Transportation and appreciate Congressman Schrader's strong advocacy of our community needs." 

Canby Ferry Rehabilitation - $400,000.00

A ferry has been in operation at this site since 1914 and it has proven to provide an important link in the Clackamas County Transportation system to facilitate regional movement of people, motorized vehicles, goods and services. This project will provide overland transportation of the ferry to dry-docks downstream on the Willamette River for retrofit and inspection work.

Pacific Coast Scenic Byway Agate Beach Wayside Improvements - $557,696.00

This project will improve access from the byway to Agate Beach. An underutilized parking area that serves as an existing wayside and access point to the Luck Gap Trail will be redesigned, along with a small segment of amenities and a sidewalk and trail will be extended from the lot to the northwest.

North Fork Road Safety Improvements - $802,600.00

Marion County will upgrade signs, perform curve assessments, install reflective centerline buttons, add needed guardrail at bridge abutments and address roadside hazards and vision issues. This project will result in an upgraded corridor that will improve safety and enhance the experience for users of North Fork Road, a designated Federal Forest Highway.

Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High-Speed Rail Corridors - $547,400.00

This project will replace seventy outdated crossing signal gate arm mechanisms at forty crossings located between Portland and Eugene. The project will eliminate potential safety hazards caused by malfunctioning crossing gates and reduce delay on Amtrak's Cascades service caused by frequent repairs to the existing crossing signals.