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State and port grants support two rail-to-container transloading projects near Portsmouth
Summary
The commission heard updates on two planned transloading facilities: a Raymond Logistics/BeltLine project at 1040 Virginia Ave that won an $800,000 port grant toward a $56 million investment, and a DeLong Company proposal at 1 Harper Ave seeking a state rail-access grant for a $26 million project expected to create about 15 direct jobs.
The Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission on Jan. 28 reviewed two private transloading projects that would convert rail shipments to export containers and said one project secured a port grant while the other is pursuing state support.
Staff reported that a BeltLine Railroad partnership with Canada-based Raymond Logistics will construct a transloading facility near 1040 Virginia Avenue. Staff said the project received an $800,000 award through the port grant program to assist the first phase, which includes rail relocation and initial transload infrastructure. The total project was described as about a $56,000,000 investment; staff said the recipient will sign a performance agreement and then have 18 months to complete the funded phase. Staff described the primary early focus as agricultural commodities, with potential to handle other products such as palletized plastics.
A separate proposal by the DeLong Company was described as seeking state rail-access grant funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to support a transloading facility at a CSX intermodal yard south of Portsmouth Road on Harper Avenue. Staff said that project would include elevators and silos, was anticipated as a roughly $26,000,000 investment and was expected to create about 15 direct jobs plus ancillary activity.
Commissioners asked about truck traffic and local road impacts related to unit trains, stuffing of containers, and export movements. Staff said both sites are adjacent to the Western Freeway and have direct roadway access; staff also said they would follow up with specifics about truck routing and local roadway impacts. No formal action was required at the meeting on either project update.
