The USDOT has awarded a $226.2 million INFRA grant and a $73.8 Mega grant to the Port of New Orleans to construct a new 1,200-acre container terminal on the Gulf Coast. (Port of New Orleans Image)

USDOT Awards $4.9B for Mega, INFRA Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is distributing $4.9 billion to 37 nationwide projects through the FY 2023-24 Mega (National Infrastructure Project Assistance) and INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) grant programs. Twelve rail-related projects will receive a total of $1.6 billion; the Pier B project at the Port of Long Beach and the Louisiana International Terminal project at the Port of New Orleans are among the winners.

Image Courtesy of GPA

GPA Approves $127MM for Blue Ridge Connector (UPDATED, 12/8)

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Board on Dec. 5 approved $127 million to build the Blue Ridge connector, an inland rail terminal in Gainesville, Ga., linking Northeast Georgia with the Port of Savannah’s 35 global container ship services.

Rendering of Plastic Express’ new building at the CSX-served Central Port Logistics Center in Savannah, Ga. (Capital Development Partners Rendering)

Industrial Development Briefs: Plastic Express, Thorold Multimodal Hub

Logistics company Plastic Express has signed a lease at the CSX-served Central Port Logistics Center in Savannah, Ga. Also, the Thorold Multimodal Hub, a joint venture of BMI Group and HOPA (Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority) Ports in Ontario, Canada, has received a 2023 Brownie Award from the Canadian Brownfields Network.

GPA Prepares for the Future, Adds Inland Rail Connectivity

Garden City Terminal at the Port of Savannah handled 49,115 containers by rail in August, approximately 89,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an increase of 6% over the same month last year, Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced on Sept. 26. Intermodal cargo represented 21.6% of total containers, an uptick in that ratio of roughly 7% compared to August 2022.

Daily rail departures are now offered between GPA’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal in Savannah and CSX’s CCX Intermodal Terminal in Rocky Mount, N.C. (pictured). (Photograph Courtesy of CSX)

CSX, GPA Launch ‘Carolina Connector’ Service

CSX and Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) have teamed to offer daily “Carolina Connector” rail service from the Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal to CSX’s CCX Intermodal Terminal in Rocky Mount, N.C.

The Port of Savannah captured the highest container market share ever, according to GPA.

Intermodal Briefs: Ports of Indiana, Georgia Ports Authority

Ports of Indiana issues Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a rail operator at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon. Also, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) achieves record Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro/Ro) volumes in Fiscal Year 2023.

Rail-mounted gantry cranes work trains at the Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal. Containers moving by rail from Savannah to the planned Northeast Georgia Inland Port in Gainesville, Ga., will avoid a round-trip truck route of 602 miles on Georgia highways. [Photo:Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen Morton]

Georgia Ports Advances Inland Rail Hub Plan

The Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Network Georgia plan to develop inland rail hubs around the state is gaining momentum, with federal environmental approval for an inland terminal near Gainesville, Ga., GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch reported May 11.

The Georgia Ports Authority will construct seven additional refrigerated container racks at Garden City Terminal in Savannah, for a new total of more than 3,500 plugs. (Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen Morton)

Intermodal Briefs: GPA, VIP

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Board approves construction of seven additional refrigerated container racks at the Port of Savannah to expand capacity. Also, Virginia Inland Port (VIP) is the first of the Port of Virginia’s six general cargo terminals to receive 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Big ship berth terminal in the works. (Photo Courtesy of the Georgia Ports Authority)

Intermodal Briefs: Georgia Ports Authority, Port of Virginia, CHS Inc./Cargill

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handles nearly six million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2022. Also, the Port of Virginia reports having processed more than 3.7 million TEUs in 2022; and CHS Inc. and Cargill will expand TEMCO LLC operations to include the Texas Gulf.

NS will present 15 customers and suppliers with inaugural Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards in January 2023.

Class I Briefs: NS, UP

Norfolk Southern (NS) recognizes 15 customers and suppliers for leadership in energy efficiency, innovation and environmental stewardship. Also, Union Pacific (UP) reports the Mexican government’s extension of the Carta Porte grace period.

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