The Washington State Legislature passed its 2009-11 Transportation Budget and included $2 million in funding to begin constructing Segment 2 and rehabilitating Segment 3 of the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project.

According to Brig Temple, the President of Columbia Basin Railroad, the unprecedented teamwork and cooperation between the Port of Moses Lake, Columbia Basin Railroad, the City of Moses Lake and Grant County EDC was a key element in raising awareness in Olympia about this critical infrastructure project. In addition, the government affairs consultants that Columbia Basin Railroad and the Port of Moses Lake utilized in Olympia did an excellent job of keeping the issue top-of-mind with legislators. More importantly, because of all the work that was done over the past few months to raise awareness with the legislature about this project, many key legislators from across the state were instrumental in helping to secure the $2 million funding for this project.

David Plate, Port of Moses Lake Commissioner, stated that the Port of Moses Lake greatly appreciated the strong endorsement for this project from legislators all over the state, especially in such a challenging budget year in Olympia. "The broad bi-partisan support for this project shows that the legislature wants it to be successful as it will help attract vital economic development and create jobs in the greater Moses Lake area," said Plate.