Detroit intermodal project moves forward
The Michigan Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have completed an environmental impact statement as part of a feasibility study to consolidate several smaller intermodal terminals into a regional facility in Detroit.
The Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal is designed to improve freight rail transportation, expand capacity and reduce the impact on neighborhoods by expanding an existing facility into a multitenant terminal. State officials say intermodal capacity is inadequate to meet demand in southeast Michigan.
Under the plan, Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern would expand their intermodal container operations at the Livernois Junction Yard and Norfolk Southern would move its two nearby Triple Crown trucking operations to the site. Triple Crown is a hybrid service that shuttles truckloads to and from terminals where trailers are placed intact on special rail wheel assemblies to ride the tracks rather than being loaded on flatbed rail cars. Canadian Pacific will also relocate its Oak intermodal container operation to the facility.
Canadian National has decided not to shift, or expand, its Moterm Terminal operation located near the state fairgrounds to the Livernois Junction Yard, but will contribute to road and rail improvements outside the terminal itself that are part of the project, according to an MDOT news release.
“This is a significant accomplishment in that it represents the largest public/private venture in Michigan history, with the railroads agreeing to pay a large share of the costs,” State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle said. He added that no public/private partnership legislation is needed to make the project happen.
The Federal Highway Administration will make an approval decision following a 49-day comment period for interested parties to review the environmental impact statement. Once approved, the project managers can begin design and right-of-way acquisition as funding becomes available.
MDOT has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a competitive TIGER grant under the federal stimulus legislation to cover the cost of paving portions of the yard. The paving will greatly reduce dust and dirt that is generated from unpaved portions of the rail yard. MDOT is also awaiting word on a high-speed rail grant request to support Amtrak and commuter rail, as well as freight rail with track improvements outside the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal. ' Eric Kulisch