Baker awarded New Orleans Rail Gateway contract by Louisiana DOTD
Written by jrood
Michael Baker Jr., Inc., a unit of Michael Baker Corporation has been awarded a three-year, $4.8 million rail/roadway engineering and environmental services contract by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for the New Orleans Rail Gateway. Baker and its team members will provide travel forecasting, rail and roadway engineering and a complete range of NEPA/environmental and public outreach services required to prepare an environmental impact statement and record of decision to modernize the entire 35-mile freight-rail system through the New Orleans metropolitan area. "This project helps to position Louisiana for future growth by providing increased efficiency in moving goods across our state and nation, and also improves safety for our citizens in this corridor by limiting rail interaction with densely populated areas," said DOTD Secretary Sherri LeBas. The project is a public-private partnership (P3) between the Federal Railroad Administration, DOTD, the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, six Class 1 railroads (NS, KCS, CSX, UP, BNSF and CN) and the Association of American Railroads. Amtrak, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and the Port of New Orleans are also stakeholders in the project. A comprehensive public involvement plan will facilitate information exchange between the public and P3 participants.
