PORTLAND — The Port of Portland is subsidizing a barge and rail system to get products out of Lewiston, Idaho, after major shipping lines stopped serving the port.
The Oregonian reports that a container barge set off Thursday from Lewiston for the first time in eight months carrying containers of agricultural and paper products to the Port of Morrow in Boardman. From there the containers will be put on a rail shuttle to Portland.
Nearly all of the port’s shipping business was canceled earlier this year during labor strife at Port of Portland’s container terminal.
The Port of Portland is paying $51,000 to get the port-to-rail system up and running. Officials expect it to pay for itself by January.
