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Lincoln County Port Authority Wins Grant to Restore Rail Connection

Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to restore rail service into the Kootenai Business Park

By Justin Franz
The Kootenai Business Park in Libby. Beacon File Photo

The Lincoln County Port Authority is receiving a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to restore rail service into the Kootenai Business Park in Libby.

The money will be used to rebuild parts of a 14,000-foot rail spur that connects the former Stimson Lumber Co. mill site with BNSF Railway’s main line between Chicago and Seattle. The total project is expected to cost more than $1.6 million.

Tina Oliphant, executive director of the port authority, said officials hope to have the rail spur rebuilt by mid-2017.

“The rehabilitation of the rail spur accessing BNSF’s main line is the Lincoln County Port Authority’s number one strategic priority,” she said. “Rail spur access, combined with the site access to just over 400 acres of industrial ground, is a scarce development commodity.”