10/4/2012

Intermodal Article
Louisiana port receives federal grant to rebuild flood-damaged rail line

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently announced it will provide a $1 million grant to the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission to help rebuild a rail line serving the Inland Rivers Marine Terminal in Baton Rouge, La., that was severely damaged by Mississippi River flooding in 2011.

The grant will help fund the reconstruction of 2.5 miles of track that connects to the marine terminal. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is served by CN, Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific Railroad.

The port will cover remaining project costs, which are projected to exceed $1 million. The port expects to begin receiving bids in January or February for the work, which will take about four to six months to complete.

The grant is part of a $200 million appropriation made by Congress to EDA to help communities that received a major disaster designation in fiscal-year 2011.

The grant "will assure that businesses throughout the region can transport their goods, remain competitive and create new jobs," said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank in a prepared statement.