USDOT announces TIGER 3 Grant Recipients

[Metro Jacksonville]

USDOT announces TIGER 3 Grant Recipients



The U.S. Department of Transportation has finally revealed the list of projects with will be funded under the $511 million TIGER III grant program.  After three years of coming up empty, a Jacksonville project has finally made it to the winner's circle.  Here is a description of the program, the full list of winners, and something to think about when preparing for TIGER IV in 2012.


Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-dec-usdot-announces-tiger-3-grant-recipients

[dougskiles]

Are there any conceptual plans available of the rail improvements?  I'm just looking for something that will help me understand the project a little better.

[thelakelander]

I don't have conceptual plans but here's a graphic of where it will be located.



Containers will be trucked from ships, across the terminal, to this rail yard where containerized unit trains will be assembled.

[dougskiles]

Thanks.  Is this something that will only be used by CSX?

[thelakelander]

Yes.

[dougskiles]

I seem to remember there was some discussion recently about improvements that would allow other rail companies to have access.  This must be a different project.  Do you know if Jaxport is proposing that also?

[thelakelander]

That was something we suggested here on MJ.  That suggestion was rebuilding the S-Line and purchasing the Blount Island spur from CSX and running it as a municipal railroad.  If that were done, all three major rail carriers would have access to all port terminals and the line could also be used for some form of passenger rail (commuter, DMU, etc.).  JAXPORT's plan has always been to only provide rail access for CSX.  Imo, it's not the best idea when several competing ports have access to multiple rail carriers.

[dougskiles]

Any ideas as to what the pricetag would be to do as MJ suggested?

[mtraininjax]

JAXPORT's plan has always been to only provide rail access for CSX.  Imo, it's not the best idea when several competing ports have access to multiple rail carriers.

+1

[tufsu1]

Any ideas as to what the pricetag would be to do as MJ suggested?

price doesn't matter unless CSX is interested in selling

[thelakelander]

^Don't know why they wouldn't.  It's not like that JAXPORT line is more important to them than the mainline they sold to state for Sunrail ($150 million for 61 miles of track).  This is America, everything is for sale (Ask Winn-Dixie).  It's just a matter of coming to the table with a deal they'd consider.  However, you'll never know if you don't present them with an offer or make a serious inquiry.  As much money as JAXPORT wants to expand, the cost of purchasing track from CSX would amount to a pimple on the ass of the overall picture.  However, the benefit to the companies the port wants to attract would be significant.

Btw, CSX has already turned over half the line to St. Mary's Railroad and First Coast Railroad.  Their business model isn't pulling single box cars into warehouse sidings these days.  So precedence has been set.  Nevertheless, if they don't play, COJ already owns the S-Line and rebuilding it would at least provide FEC with access to Talleyrand.

[thelakelander]

Any ideas as to what the pricetag would be to do as MJ suggested?

It depends on how much track is purchased.  It's been a few years since the concept was discussed.  Give me a day or two come up with a rough number based on the sell of track/mile in recent CSX deals.

[tufsu1]

why would CSX be interested in selling if they could get someone else to pay for improvements that gave them sole rail access to JaxPort?

[thelakelander]

Easy answer.  No one (a company or individual) has a problem about investing their own money in things they really desire.  CSX already has sole access to Blount Island.  It's been that way since CSX was formed.  The intermodal yard in question is clearly more beneficial to the future of JAXPORT than it is CSX.  If there's real money to be made, CSX is a company who will gladly spend their money investing on infrastructure for more profit.  Before his retirement, my dad worked as the comptroller for a F500 wood/paper products company that happened to be a major CSX industrial client.  CSX routinely contributed cash for their plant expansion projects along their lines.

Also, major railroads have little interest in "fishing" for traffic.  They rather would have those containers just show up at their existing yards.   That's why several lines in the area have been sold off or leased to shortline operators in recent years.

[Jason]

What I'm not understanding is why would they need a new transfer yard when they could simply run the rail right to the TraPac waterfront?