Examples of Intermodal Freight Projects
Funded by the
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program
Under TEA-21

1. The State of Maine has funded additional intermodal truck to rail facilities, as described in the discussion of ISTEA-funded projects, in Auburn, Winterport, Saco and Portland. An additional $491,000 has been obligated to improve freight access to rail thereby reducing long-haul truck mileage.

2. The State of New Jersey has approved a public-private partnership for the Port Jersey freight project. This project involves adding half a mile of railroad tracks to allow freight to be moved without the need for intermediate trucks.

3. The State of New York has approved a public-private partnership which will allow a large bakery in Staten Island to receive its ingredients by rail rather than by truck. The rebuilding of a previously abandoned rail line and modifications to the bakery building itself will allow for large scale deliveries reducing significant truck traffic.

4. The State of New York also participated in a demonstration project to reduce truck idling at the Hunt's Point Cooperative Market. This project used $25,000 in CMAQ funding to pay part of the cost of installing truck stop electrification equipment so that trucks waiting to load and unload at the Nation's largest meat market will be able to turn off their engines and still run all their needed on-board equipment.

5. The State of Washington has funded a project to improve railroad tracks in the Tacoma area. The State used $32,000 in CMAQ funding to upgrade 17 miles of track allowing expanded freight operations to move at greater speed.

Examples of Intermodal Freight Projects
Funded by the
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program
Under ISTEA

1. Stark County Intermodal Facility, Stark County, OH: Construction of an intermodal facility which will allow truck trailers and freight containers to be loaded onto railroad cars. Total cost, $32 million, includes $7 million in CMAQ funding as a loan under the Innovative Financing program to be repaid to the Ohio DOT and $25 million in private funds.

2. Columbia Slough Intermodal Expansion Bridge, Portland, OR: Construction of a bridge for railroads to directly access a deep water port facility, eliminating truck trips. Total cost of the project, $6.1 million, includes $1 million in CMAQ funds and $2.1 million in demonstration funds. The port of Portland is providing $1.5 million and private railroads $1.5 million.

3. Red Hook Container Barge, New York, NY: $1.9 million in CMAQ funding were matched in a 50:50 ratio to purchase a barge and provide for some operating assistance to freight operations to remove 54,000 truck trips from the NY/NJ streets annually.

4. Auburn Truck to Rail Transfer Facility, Auburn, ME: Construction of an intermodal facility owned by the City of Auburn and leased to Maine Intermodal Transportation, Inc. This facility is expected to redirect substantial truck traffic to rail. $2.3 million in CMAQ funds were used in conjunction with $600,000 in local match and $200,000 in private funds.

5. Fairfield Truck to Rail Transfer Facility, Fairfield, ME: Construction of an intermodal facility, including storage areas, staging and other facilities, similar to the Auburn project above. Only funds for preliminary engineering have been obligated so far. Maine DOT has requested $1.9 million in CMAQ funding for the $3.5 million project.

6. Bensenville Rail Yard Improvements, Chicago, IL: $2.1 million in CMAQ funds will be used in the $2.6 million project to improve access and egress in the west end of the yard. Project includes new track, interlockings and signals to raise train speeds and reduce rail/traffic conflicts at grade crossings.

7. Third Rail Line, Cincinnati, OH: To relieve freight train congestion (experienced by 85 percent of trains in the corridor), new rail will be constructed to reroute train traffic. Project will have benefits in reducing congestion at truck/rail grade crossings and shift truck freightage to rail. CMAQ funding will cover $5 million of the $15 million cost. The Norfolk Southern railroad will cover the remaining $10 million under the Innovative Financing program allowing private match.