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Yesterday, CSX Corp., the Tampa Port Authority (TPA) and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. announced they are pursuing a public-private partnership project designed to transport ethanol into the Tampa, Fla., market more efficiently and safely via a unit train-to-pipeline distribution system.

Under the partnership, the TPA will build track and rail support infrastructure to handle 100-car unit trains and a multi-product unit train offloading yard at Hooker’s Point in the Port of Tampa. The new rail facilities will enable CSX to transport ethanol from Midwest producers to central Florida in unit trains, which then would be offloaded within 24 hours at Kinder Morgan’s Tampa terminal for distribution to numerous blend terminals and new markets via pipeline, the parties said in a joint statement.

The rail project also will enable the TPA to move containers and other general cargoes directly from dock to rail at a new on-dock unit train facility.

“This first-of-its-kind intermodal project represents an all around win-win for the Port of Tampa, terminal operators, the consuming public and the environment,” said Richard Wainio, the port’s director and chief executive officer.

The rail facilities are expected to be operational by September 2012. CSX and the TPA will provide more than $10.9 million for the project.

“CSX and its subsidiary TRANSFLO are pleased to participate in this efficient solution to delivering ethanol to the central Florida market,” said Jon Haselwood, president of TRANSFLO terminal services, adding that the joint venture will enhance future growth opportunities for CSX and the port.