The Port of Benton has ended its lease with Tri-City Railroad Co. for operation of the port’s 16-mile Southern Connection rail line between Center Parkway in Kennewick and Horn Rapids Road in north Richland, port officials confirmed June 29. The Washington seaport said that it terminated the lease after Benton County Superior Court ruled in May that the rail company was in default for not properly maintaining the rail system. Part of the final settlement agreement that took effect June 17 involves the port assessing existing tenants at 2579 Stevens Drive and starting new lease negotiations in anticipation of becoming…