Final environmental review released for Charleston intermodal hub
Mischa Wanek-Libman — Railway Age
A proposed rail-served intermodal hub in South Carolina has passed a major milestone.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, has published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed Palmetto Railways intermodal facility at a former naval base near Charleston, S.C.
Palmetto Railways, a division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, plans to build and operate the Navy Base Intermodal Facility on a 118-acre site located on the former Charleston Naval Complex.
“Reaching this monumental milestone will help to advance this much needed infrastructure in our area,” said Jeffrey McWhorter, president and CEO of Palmetto Railways.
Palmetto Railways says the intermodal facility will allow the Charleston region to facilitate the movement of goods and commerce over rail within the state and throughout the Southeast region of the United States, stimulating economic development within the region and providing connections to key regional infrastructure.
Officials also note that the facility location takes advantage of close proximity and availability of the region’s transportation infrastructure, including major roadways and the South Carolina Ports Authority. In addition, this facility provides equal connectivity to the area for CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Construction of the $130-milion facility includes six different project elements:
- Northern Rail Connection: A track will be constructed that approaches the facility from the north.
- Cosgrove McMillan Overpass: Grade separation project, which includes a pedestrian and recreational multi-use path to Riverfront Park.
- Navy Base Intermodal Facility: The facility would include processing and classification tracks, electric wide-span gantry cranes, container stacking areas, administrative buildings and vehicle driving lanes.
- Hobson/Bainbridge Realignment and Viaduct Removal: Realignment of roads will allow trucks to move to and from the interstate without impacting local neighborhoods.
- Private Drayage Road: A dedicated one-mile drayage road connecting the facility to the South Carolina Ports Authority facilities.
- Southern Rail Connection: A southern loop would be built to as a southern approach and allow connections between existing rail infrastructure.
Comments can be submitted on the project through July 31, 2018.
