An effort to reconnect the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe main line has received a major financial boost from the federal government. The Port of Bellingham announced Aug. 15 that it has received $17.9 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project. The funding comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program, created in 2009 by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Bellingham secured the biggest share of this year’s RAISE total award of $48.4 million. “The new rail connection will create jobs, reduce carbon emissions…