CSX, Pittsburgh-area officials mark start of intermodal terminal project

CSX Corp. executives and local and state officials gathered late last week for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of an intermodal terminal under construction near Pittsburgh in Stowe Township and McKees Rocks, Pa.

Scheduled to open in 2017, the $60 million facility will provide shipping logistics services to manufacturers and distributors in western Pennsylvania, CSX officials said in a press release.

"Together, we are making an investment here in Stowe Township and McKees Rocks that will transform an industrial space into a modern, state-of-the art facility," said CSX President Clarence Gooden. "None of this would be possible without the vision, dedication and commitment of our many partners in this project, including Allegheny County, Stowe Township and the McKees Rocks Borough, Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the McKees Rocks Community Development Corp."

Construction on the terminal began in September, with with initial activity focused on demolishing existing buildings and clearing the site to prepare for major construction. The project will redevelop a former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad yard, which operated for more than 100 years on the 70-acre site.

"We are excited to have CSX make this investment in the community. We know the importance of rail in our region, and the start of this work emphasizes exactly that," said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. "This terminal will not only help connect western Pennsylvania’s businesses to the global marketplace, but it will also help stimulate McKees Rocks’ and Stowe’s economies."