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CSX Corp. and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) have suspended an National Environmental Policy review process for four candidate sites chosen for a proposed intermodal facility in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area.

But the Class I remains committed to developing an intermodal facility in the area, and to that end, has changed its evaluation to include the redevelopment of existing rail yards within the city of Baltimore, said CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan in a submitted statement, adding that the change was made with the support of Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

CSX and MDOT now have now identified one location as a potential site for a new, smaller intermodal facility: Mount Clare Yard, which is an active CSX rail yard in southwest Baltimore, he said.

"This proposed, state-of-the-art intermodal facility would utilize zero-emissions electric crane technology: the first of its kind at any East Coast port," said Sullivan. "Preliminary cost estimates for this project are approximately $90 to 95 million. CSX and MDOT will share its costs."

In addition, CSX plans to spend about $42 million on infrastructure enhancements to further position the Port of Baltimore for growth, he said.

Over the next year, CSX and MDOT will conduct engineering assessments to better understand the project's feasibility and costs, and then will focus on the permitting process.

"As we do in every intermodal terminal development project, CSX has assured the state and city that we will engage the public and, to the best of our ability, address any concerns," said Sullivan. "Our goal is have this terminal operational by 2015 to help the port accommodate anticipated growth resulting from the widening of the Panama Canal, while helping reduce highway congestion, creating jobs and supporting regional business development."