Rail line would link inland areas to Mississippi ports

Written by jrood

The Jackson County, Miss., Port Authority will provide $35,000 for a study on creating a rail line linking east-central Mississippi to coastal ports, the Hattiesburg American reports. The Regional Railroad Authority of East Mississippi would oversee about 45 miles of track from Waynesboro to Lucedale, where existing lines serve port facilities in Pascagoula and Mobile.

The group is seeking $225
million in federal transportation funds.

Rail authority officials said
that the money would help with planning and for engineering services needed to
apply for other funding. Areas along the rail route are hoping for spinoff companies,
such as container yards, to boost their economies as the Pascagoula and Mobile
ports expand.

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