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Connect Oregon

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March 2026 funding update 

To address ODOT’s funding gap for the 2025-2027 budget cycle, the Oregon Legislature redirected state funding from a number of ODOT programs and projects. This includes a $42 million redirection from the Connect Oregon program. This is a one-time budget solution to prevent 470 layoffs and deep service reductions that would have impacted safety for all travelers in Oregon.
The redirection will not affect any Connect Oregon projects selected in previous funding opportunities — including the latest one that closed in 2024 — nor will it affect projects previously funded by the program’s Federal Grant Match Option. 
However, the redirection will reduce the amount available for the current Connect Oregon funding opportunity, which runs Jan. 7 - March 27, 2026.
The funding application process will remain the same. Please apply by the March 27 deadline and follow the outlined application process. 
The redirection will also affect the Federal Grant Match option: We’re not accepting new applications for the match option, effective March 9, 2026. We’re pausing that part of the program until we have more certainty about the future of Connect Oregon’s funding source. As of March 2026, we do not have an estimate when the match option will be available again.  Any already approved grant match will not be impacted.

New 2026 competitive grant funding round

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 round of competitive grant funding through March 27, 2026.*

Prospective applicants should familiarize themselves with the materials under “Application Documents and Review Information" before submitting their applications. Please include letters of support with your application, or if a letter of support arrives after your submission, please email it to John Boren.

Start your application online today

*Note: This is the new, extended application deadline. (The previous deadline was Feb. 27, 2026.)

Investing in Oregon's non-highway transportation future

The Connect Oregon program was established by the 2005 state legislature to invest in non-highway modes of transportation. The program currently funds aviation, rail, and marine projects via competitive grants and matching funds for federal grant programs. In past years, the program also funded bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects.

As of 2024, there have been eight competitive grant funding opportunities under the program. In total, the program has awarded $512 million to 240 projects throughout the state.

New Connect Oregon funding option: Federal Grant Match

March 2026 update: We’re not currently accepting new applications for the match option. This match option is paused until we have more certainty about available funds. We do not have an estimate when the match option will be available again.

Applications Under Review

If you can’t open one of the application PDFs, try downloading the file and opening it with Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat instead of viewing it in your web browser.


Funding by Cycle

To open the report above in full screen mode, or to exit full screen mode, click the diagonal arrow button on the lower right side of the dashboard. Use the left or right arrows to navigate between the pages of the report. 

Additional Program Information and Progress

Connect Oregon funds “transportation projects” which per statute means a project or undertaking for rail, marine or aviation capital infrastructure, including bridges, or a project that facilitates the transportation of materials, animals or people. This does not include maintenance, ongoing operations, or planning efforts that do not result in construction. 

Projects eligible for funding from highway fund revenues that come primarily from state fuel taxes, vehicle title and registration fees, and heavy truck fees (section 3a, Article IX of the Oregon Constitution, the Highway Trust Fund), are not eligible for Connect Oregon funding. If a highway or public road element is essential to the complete functioning of the proposed project, applicants are encouraged to work with their ODOT region, city, or county to identify the necessary funding sources.​

Guidance

Forms

Background


The state legislature identified five dedicated projects (four in House Bill 2017 and one in House Bill 4304) that were to be grantees of the Connect Oregon program.

The statuses of the projects are as follows:

  • Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Facility – $25 million from HB 2017 - Project Plan approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission at their July 2019 meeting. The project developed an intermodal facility on 66 acres on portions of a former mill site located in Millersburg adjacent to I-5. Improvements including new support tracks to connect to Union Pacific Railroad, working tracks to move rail cars within the yard, and supporting office and support facilities. Construction was completed in 2022. The new operator is working to develop potential commodity business lines at this facility including renewable energy, agriculture, intermodal containers, and waste management.
  • Treasure Valley Intermodal Facility - $26 million from HB 2017 - Project Plan approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission at their July 2019 meeting. The project includes a transload facility to transfer via rail agricultural commodities and potentially other commodities to locations with in the United states.  Construction of most of the rail infrastructure is complete.  The project sponsor is finalizing a plan to lease the facility to a new operator who will be responsible for completing construction and beginning operations.  The new operator will become the facility owner at the end of the lease agreement as long as they comply with the terms and conditions including operating the reload center for 10 years.
  • Rail Expansion at the Port of Morrow - $6.55 million from HB 2017 - Project Plan approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission at their September 2018 meeting. This project constructed rail improvements in the Port of Morrow's East Beach Industrial Park in Boardman, OR to improve the port's rail operations, service and capacity. Construction is complete.
  • Rail siding to support Amtrak Cascade line - $2.6 million from HB 2017 -  Project has been canceled due to previously unknown challenges with retaining walls supporting the railroad roadbed that made the improvements cost prohibitive.
  • Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Rail Bridge Rehabilitation Project - $5 million from HB 4304 – The project made rail bridge repairs and replacements on the Coos Bay Rail Line. The project replaced the Vaughn Bridge and Coal Bank Slough Bridge, and repaired five swing-span bridges.  The project was completed in late 2025 and awaits final on-site inspection.

Contact

For policy and proposed projects:
Email John Boren
Freight Program Manager
Telephone 503-951-0166

For grants awarded or projects underway:

Email Cece Gilbert
Connect Oregon Program Manager
Telephone 503-986-3528

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