Georgia Port Authority launches southeast to Midwest rail freight arc
THE Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) Mid-American Arc, an intermodal rail initiative, intends to extend the Port of Savannah's reach to capture new markets from the US Southeast to the Midwest.
"This enhancement of our rail capacity is a game-changer in the market to serve cities ranging in an arc from Atlanta to Memphis, St Louis, Chicago and the Ohio Valley," said GPA executive director Griff Lynch.
"Additional track will allow us to build unit trains, 10,000 feet long, completely on terminal, while reducing rail crossings and impact on the local community," he told those gathered for the Savannah State of the Port event.
Included in the plan is a US$128 million project that will link the Savannah Garden City Terminal's two rail yards, improve efficiency and grow the terminal's rail lift capacity to one million containers a year.
Mr Lynch also announced that flooring retailer Atlanta-area Floor & Decor will open a 1.4 million-square foot distribution centre in the Savannah market.
The build-to-suit warehouse will open by 2018 and be located on 90 acres about 10 miles from the Port of Savannah, with construction starting in November.
"This is a tremendous vote of confidence in the Georgia Ports Authority and the future of the fast-growing market of the US Southeast," said GPA chairman Jimmy Allgood.
"It comes on the heels of a year in which millions of square feet of industrial and warehouse space were opened or announced across Georgia," he said.
THE Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) Mid-American Arc, an intermodal rail initiative, intends to extend the Port of Savannah's reach to capture new markets from the US Southeast to the Midwest.
"This enhancement of our rail capacity is a game-changer in the market to serve cities ranging in an arc from Atlanta to Memphis, St Louis, Chicago and the Ohio Valley," said GPA executive director Griff Lynch.
"Additional track will allow us to build unit trains, 10,000 feet long, completely on terminal, while reducing rail crossings and impact on the local community," he told those gathered for the Savannah State of the Port event.
Included in the plan is a US$128 million project that will link the Savannah Garden City Terminal's two rail yards, improve efficiency and grow the terminal's rail lift capacity to one million containers a year.
Mr Lynch also announced that flooring retailer Atlanta-area Floor & Decor will open a 1.4 million-square foot distribution centre in the Savannah market.
The build-to-suit warehouse will open by 2018 and be located on 90 acres about 10 miles from the Port of Savannah, with construction starting in November.
"This is a tremendous vote of confidence in the Georgia Ports Authority and the future of the fast-growing market of the US Southeast," said GPA chairman Jimmy Allgood.
"It comes on the heels of a year in which millions of square feet of industrial and warehouse space were opened or announced across Georgia," he said.