Crescent Corridor Regional Intermodal Facilities
Project Description
Norfolk Southern has initiated the Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Program of projects to develop a fast and efficient rail intermodal route from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. When fully developed, this program of projects will provide new and improved domestic rail intermodal service between the Northeast and Southeast. Rail route enhancements and intermodal terminal development are required to provide the service necessary to create these public benefits. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) launched the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grant program on June 17, 2009 and solicited applications for innovative, multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional transportation projects that provide significant economic and environmental benefits. On February 17, 2010, Norfolk Southern’s Crescent Corridor Program was awarded a TIGER grant in the amount of $105 million, split evenly towards the construction of two regional intermodal facilities in Tennessee and Alabama.
Although the individual Crescent Corridor projects are designed to stand alone, when linked as part of an integrated multistate network they will become even more effective in absorbing trucks from congested highways and putting them on rail. This will lead to improved energy efficiency, enhanced safety, and more public benefits such as greater mobility, less congestion, improved air quality, prudent land use, and reduced shipping costs.
The initial projects in the Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Program include the construction of facilities in the Birmingham, AL and Memphis, TN regions.
Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility (BRIMF)
The BRIMF will be capable of handling 100,000 annual container lifts from or to a railcar, and the general components of the facility include: two pad tracks totaling 8,400 linear feet of loading and unloading space; three support tracks totaling approximately 14,000 feet; a 1,000 foot long locomotive storage track; 932 paved trailer parking spaces; a 7,000 foot long lead track connecting the facility to Railroad’s mainline on the north; a 5,800 foot long lead track connecting the facility to Railroad’s mainline on the south; a 20,900 foot long passing track on the west side of the mainline; ancillary modular buildings and operating equipment; an automated gate system (AGS) including hardware, software, AGS gate building and other structures, and related appurtenances; and a 3,400 foot access road to link the Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility to McAshan Drive.
The BRIMF is a public-private partnership, consisting of a $97.5 million project to construct the facility with adjacent infrastructure improvements. The $52.5 million TIGER Grant will be coupled with $6.57 million in Federal CMAQ funding, $4 million from the Alabama Industrial Road and Bridge access Program at ALDOT, and Norfolk Southern’s commitment of $34.43 million, including the acquisition of property (already completed), in order to fully construct the project and cover any funding gaps as necessary. The CMAQ funding will be applied towards the AGS Building ($130 thousand), the AGS ($2.64 million), and lift machines ($3.8 million), all on an 80%/20% basis.
Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility (MRIMF)
The MRIMF will be capable of handling 200,000 annual container lifts from or to a railcar, and the general components of the facility include: three pad tracks, each 4,050 ft. long, four support tracks totaling approximately 17,000 feet, 1,000 paved trailer parking spaces, a double lead track connecting MRIMF to the Railway’s main line, a loop track to allow trains to reverse direction after entering the facility, ancillary modular buildings and operating equipment, an automated gate system (AGS), including hardware, software, building and other structures, and related appurtenances, and TDOT’s installation of a grade separation overpass for State Route 57.
The MRIMF is a public-private partnership, consisting of a $105.1 million project to construct the facility with adjacent infrastructure improvements. The $52.5 million TIGER Grant will be coupled with $11.36 million in Federal CMAQ funding, and Norfolk Southern’s commitment of $40.28 million, including the acquisition of property (already completed), in order to fully construct the project and cover any funding gaps as necessary. The CMAQ funding will be applied towards the SR-57 grade separation ($4.8 million), the AGS ($3.5 million) and lift machines ($5.9 million), all on an 80%/20% basis. EFLHD has received $9.4M in CMAQ funds from TDOT for the AGS and lift machines.
Project Timeline
- Will be provided when available
Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Memorandum of Agreements (MOA)
BRIMF
The Memorandum of Agreement between FHWA, EFLHD, the State of Alabama DOT, and Norfolk Southern Railway Company was completed on December 29, 2010. This document lays out the roles and responsibilities for the environmental planning, design and construction, review, oversight and cooperative advancement of the Crescent Corridor work required for the BRIMF. FHWA, EFLHD is responsible for the coordination and facilitation of the overall schedule for the entire Project, as well as for the management of the TIGER funding. When their involvement is required, the State of Alabama DOT is also responsible to cooperate with EFLHD and the Railroad to the extent necessary for advancing the project.
MRIMF
The Memorandum of Agreement between FHWA, EFLHD, the State of Tennessee DOT, and Norfolk Southern Railway Company was completed on December 30, 2010. This document lays out the roles and responsibilities for the environmental planning, design and construction, review, oversight and cooperative advancement of the Crescent Corridor work required for the MRIMF. FHWA, EFLHD is responsible for the coordination and facilitation of the overall schedule for the entire Project, as well as for the management of the TIGER funding. When their involvement is required, the State of Tennessee DOT is also responsible to cooperate with EFLHD and the Railroad to the extent necessary for advancing the project.
Location Maps
Grant Agreements
Financial Plan
BRIMF
The FHWA-EFLHD in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway Company, on behalf of itself and its subsidiary Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company, has developed a comprehensive Financial Plan for construction of the Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility (BRIMF) project in McCalla, Alabama in accordance with the requirements of Section 106, Title 23, and the Financial Plan Guidance issued by the Federal Highway Administration. The plan provides detailed cost estimates to complete the project and the estimates of financial resources to be utilized to fully finance the project.
MRIMF
The FHWA-EFLHD in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway Company has developed a comprehensive Financial Plan for construction of the MRIMF project in Rossville, Tennessee in accordance with the requirements of Section 106, Title 23, and the Financial Plan Guidance issued by the Federal Highway Administration. The plan provides detailed cost estimates to complete the project and the estimates of financial resources to be utilized to fully finance the project.
Status Reports / Briefings
- Quarterly status report - 09.30.11
- Quarterly status report - 12.31.11
- Quarterly status report - 03.31.12
For more information, see www.thefutureneedsus.com