Rail line at Toledo port dedicated

Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority President and CEO Paul Toth, Midwest Terminals of Toledo and area officials dedicated the Port Authority-owned rail line currently under construction at Ironville Terminal on August 15. This phase of construction was made possible by $5 million in Jobs Ready Sites Grant Funding. Commemorative rail spikes were pounded into the rail line by the officials in honor of the dedication. The total public/private investment into Ironville Terminal will be more than $18 million when the infrastructure projects are complete in 2014. The Port Authority and Midwest Terminals also shared their joint future plans for Ironville which include three phases of development focused on using the 71 acres of waterfront property for material delivery and handling to support a new manufacturing base located on the 110 acre balance of the property. The flexible waterfront property at Ironville will also have the ability to receive bulk materials and will support and receive goods for other manufacturing operations throughout the region. Since 2008, the Port Authority has sought funding for the redevelopment of Ironville. In addition to the $5 million JRS Grant Funding, Ironville Terminal also benefits from $7.4 million in grant funding via a State of Ohio Logistics and Distribution Stimulus grant and a $3.1 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration is currently pending. The awards are unique as several local entities partnered on each application to ensure the region had the best chance in receiving each award. "The development of Ironville Terminal has received a tremendous amount of support, due mostly to the incredible potential this property has for commerce and job development," said Toth. "This public/private partnership is possible not only due to the vast amounts of grant funding but specifically to our private partners, Midwest Terminals of Toledo, who will invest nearly $5 million into the development of this property when complete. Without this strong partnership, we would not be able to create these future jobs for our community or this new development opportunity for our region." Ironville Terminal is currently in Phase One - Rail Installation. Approximately 7,200 linear feet of rail and eight switches will be installed when Phase One is complete later this year or early 2012. The Port Authority owned rail line connects with the nearby Norfolk Southern rail line.   Phase Two includes improvements of the river channel and shoreline to prepare a deep water marine dock to accommodate barges and lake trading and ocean vessels. Phase Three plans include the installation of a multi-modal delivery system. The conveyor and material transfer systems creates efficiencies through rapid freight loading and unloading and is capable of handling any dry bulk material. Self-unloading ships will discharge into a 500 cubic yard hopper, which will feed the conveying system. The hopper discharge will also be capable of loading rail cars on the outer loop track.