By Jeff Stagl, Editor-in-Chief
In August, the Hancock County Harbor and Harbor Commission (HCPHC) expects to complete a $6.1 million rail storage yard at Port Bienville in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, about 40 miles east of New Orleans.
Funded by the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, the project will expand the port’s existing rail line by adding a siding and rail stairs at the storage yard, increasing storage capacity of cars in 150 car spaces up to a total of 610 spaces.
The expanded capacity will allow HCPHC to more effectively serve current tenants in the Port Bienville Industrial Park and accommodate future development of the park. Seven of the park’s 14 tenants currently use rail service.
The project is the commission’s largest investment in the port’s short line, the Port Bienville Railway (PBVR), in more than two decades, HCPHC officials say.
And there are more investments and projects to come over the next few years at the port involving PBVR, which interchanges with CSX at Ansley and moves commodities such as chemicals, pipes, plastics and steel.
The port’s short line, which interchanges with CSX in Ansley, transports products such as chemicals, pipes, plastics and steel. Hancock County Harbor and Harbor Commission
The commission recently learned it will receive $7.3 million in Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill. The federal dollars will help fund the $25.4 million Port Bienville Rail Intermodal Expansion Project, which is designed to improve rail infrastructure and address key challenges facing PBVR and existing industries.
The project will be developed over the next two years in two phases: a $14.6 million first phase that includes the construction of a seven-lane marshalling yard; and a $10.8 million second phase involving construction of an intermodal facility.
The improvements will address two major challenges facing PBVR: car storage capacity and operational capacity. PBVR offers switching services for park tenants and port customers, and storage services for automobiles in transit along the Gulf Coast.
The project will significantly increase operating capacity by approximately 78%, allowing the railroad to store more than 800 railcars by 2027, HCPHC officials say.
Estimated to be completed in 2027, the marshalling yard will significantly increase rail storage capacity by accommodating an additional 220 railcars, HCPHC Executive Director and CEO Blaine LaFontaine said in an email.
Seven of the Port Bienville Industrial Park’s 14 tenants currently use rail service. Hancock County Harbor and Harbor Commission
“Rail traffic has increased annually for the past four years and it is estimated that (the port’s short line) will move more than 9,500 loaded cars this year alone,” he said. “The main driver for this project is the recurring regional demand for rail storage in our market with the existing industry and transitional opportunities. “We decided to carry out this project to meet that demand and create capacity for new industries in the port.”
The new intermodal facility will connect trucking operations to the port’s rail network, helping to improve efficiency and promote multimodal transportation options in the region and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, HCPHC officials say. The facility will also help address the lack of true intermodal switching capacity in the industrial park.
So far, the commission has secured $10.7 million in federal and state grants and $3.9 million in local funds to proceed with construction of the project starting in 2026, LaFontaine said.
“Project engineering is underway, approximately 50% complete, and we are working on environmental permitting processes for the project site that could take 12 months to complete,” he said. “In addition, we must work through all appropriate grant agreements and federal review requirements, which is why we are targeting 2026 for construction.”
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.