The project includes design engineering construction and inspection of a new rail spur with approximately 10000 linear feet LF of new track and construction of three transload tracks that will provide…

The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration awarded $14.3 million to Lowndes County Board of Supervisors on November 3, 2025, under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (CFDA 20.823) to design, engineer, construct, and inspect a new rail spur and transload infrastructure at the Lowndes County West Bank Port in Columbus, Mississippi. The project encompasses three primary components: (1) engineering, design, environmental reviews, and permitting activities to obtain federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval and competitive construction bids; (2) construction of approximately 10,000 linear feet of new rail track connecting to the existing Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern rail line, installation of three transload tracks for cargo storage and docking, and roadway relocation to facilitate rail placement; and (3) construction engineering and inspection services including part-time field observation, monthly progress reporting, and processing of submittals, requests for information, change orders, and pay applications.

The project is expected to enhance cargo transloading capabilities between barges and railcars, improving the safety, efficiency, and reliability of goods movement through the port facility. The ultimate completion date is March 1, 2029. Performance will be measured by tracking total vessel calls per year to the project area, with outcomes reported in the category of economic competitiveness and opportunity. This award reflects the Port Infrastructure Development Program's focus on capital projects that strengthen intermodal connections at inland river ports and enhance regional transportation infrastructure.

The project includes design engineering construction and inspection of a new rail spur with approximately 10000 linear feet LF of new track and construction of three transload tracks that will provide direct rail access for transloading cargo between barges and railcars at the lowndes county west bank port. Activities to be performed the project consists of the following three components component 1 engineering and design environmental reviews assessments and permitting necessary to gain federal nepa approval and advance the project. Engineering design drawings and specifications to produce construction documents to obtain competitive bids. Advertise for bids host a bid opening review bids and make recommendation of contract award for the construction contract. Component 2 construction new rail spur off the existing canadian pacific kansas city southern cpkc rail line to connect at the lowndes county west bank port. The new rail spur will consist of approximately 10000 LF of new track. Addition of three transload tracks at the lowndes county west bank port. Transload tracks will store/dock railroad cars while awaiting loading. To avoid costly retaining structures along the top bank of the TN TOM waterway old macon road will be shifted west between the next set of cpkc columns so that the new rail can run where the current road exists. Component 3 construction engineering and inspection general project construction oversight and field observation. This will be part time inspection with monthly observation reports for owner progress tracking. Review and process all submittals rfis change orders pay applications and other project correspondence as required. Deliverables expected outcomes performance measure table from schedule G page 10 of the grant agreement measure vessel calls. Category and description economic competitiveness and opportunity total vessel calls per year calling to the area defined in the project study area. Reported in total and disaggregated by any of the following where applicable: vessel type EG container bulk RO RO LNG freight capacity vessel length or other. Measure cargo volume tons. Category and description economic competitiveness and opportunity the movement of gross tonnage of cargo moved by vessel per year in the area defined by the project study area. Measurement frequency quarterly. Measure cargo volume tons. Category and description economic competitiveness and opportunity the movement of gross tonnage of freight moved per year by freight in the area defined by the project study area. Gross tons are defined as freight cargo minus tare weight of the rail cars. Measurement frequency quarterly. Measurement frequency quarterly. Intended beneficiary lowndes county of board of supervisors. Subrecipient activities none.