Vancouver USA’s rail engineering excellence
(Posted on 26/02/19)
The Port of Vancouver USA’s West Vancouver Freight Access project (WVFA) won a 2019 Engineering Excellence Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Oregon.
The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. It is primarily a bulk import and export facility with dedicated facilities for specific commodities, such as grain, soy beans, corn, mineral ores, concentrates, fertilizers, clays, bauxite and agricultural commodities.
Port Director of Engineering and Project Delivery Monty Edberg, who led a team of staff and consultants for more than 10 years to see WVFA to completion, presented the award to the port’s Board of Commissioners during a public meeting 12 February.
“The WVFA has been the recipient of several American awards as well as one international award, and we should all be proud of our involvement in the project,” said Edberg. “I can say that pretty much everyone on our staff has been involved in this project. And I think we need to recognize the commission’s role in this, too. Because of your steadfastness – your stick-to-itiveness with this project – and your vision, I’d like to present the Board of Commissioners with…our Grand Award for 2019.”
Omaha, Nebraska-based engineering firm HDR was the port’s prime consultant on WVFA and submitted the project for a 2019 Engineering Excellence Award.
WVFA was one of four projects in Southern Washington and Northern Oregon that received a Grand Award this year. The top award – Project of the Year – went to the City of Vancouver’s Waterfront Park.
The West Vancouver Freight Access project brings congestion relief and efficiency to Port of Vancouver USA and regional businesses as well as rail users and communities across the Western U.S. The project was a concerted, decade-long effort by the port to create jobs and generate economic benefit by investing in freight rail infrastructure. WVFA improves freight rail movement through the port and along the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad mainlines connecting the Pacific Northwest to major rail hubs in Chicago and Houston, and from Canada to Mexico.
The $251 million project consisted of 21 sub-projects, including construction of a new port rail entrance, expansion of the port’s rail corridor and the addition of a loop track at the port’s Terminal 5. The overall project also increased the port’s railcar capacity from 50,000 to 400,000 cars annually.
WVFA was delivered in July 2018, ahead of schedule and $24 million under the original engineer’s estimate.
The annual ACEC Engineering Excellence competition recognizes engineering achievements that demonstrate the highest degree of merit and ingenuity.
Latest News
LOGISTEC expands marine cargo handling services at Baltimore terminal
(Posted on 30/09/25)LOGISTEC, a leading North American marine and logistics services provider, is diversifying its cargo... Read more
Ulsan Port achieves Korea’s first green methanol STS Bunkering for bulk carrier
(Posted on 29/09/25)Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) announced that it successfully completed Korea’s first methanol bunkering... Read more
New report warns urgent action needed to safeguard ports from climate threats
(Posted on 29/09/25)The global supply chain will suffer as ports face ever-mounting threats from sea-level rise, extreme... Read more
Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy to host Quantum Maritime Conference
(Posted on 29/09/25)Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy (ADMA), the region’s leading academic institution for mariners and... Read more
AD Ports begins LEO satellite connectivity rollout across global operations
(Posted on 22/09/25)Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, a leading global enabler of trade, logistics, and industry services,... Read more
Port of Immingham welcomes Wilson Eco I
(Posted on 22/09/25)Associated British Ports (ABP) has welcomed the Wilson Eco I to its Port of Immingham on the vessel&... Read more
Peel Ports to invest £100m to expand national steel and metals multimodal hub
(Posted on 15/09/25)The UK’s second largest port operator is progressing with £32m to add a further 140,000... Read more
Jobs and investment boost for UK’s largest steel-handling port
(Posted on 14/09/25)The First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan and Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca... Read more
Karachi Terminals major dredging agreement to double bulk vessel capacity
(Posted on 09/09/25)AD Ports Group, a leading enabler of global trade, logistics, and industry, has announced the signing... Read more
Long An Port signs agreements with ports of Portland and Gothenburg
(Posted on 08/09/25)During the Tay Ninh E-Commerce and Export-Import Supply Chain Networking Forum 2025, Long An International... Read more
