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On Friday, federal and local officials will join Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) executives to break ground on a $49.4 million rail construction project in Miami. Invited officials include U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

The project is designed to reconnect the Port of Miami to the national rail network via FEC. Work involves the reconstruction of a rail line; rehabilitation of a bridge that was damaged and taken out of service by Hurricane Wilma in 2005; and construction of an intermodal yard on Dodge Island that will enable the port to accommodate “super” cargo ships beginning in 2014 after the Panama Canal expansion is completed. The project will employ more than 800 people and generate $33.4 million in wages in south Florida, according to FEC.
 
A $22.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will fund slightly less than half of project costs. The Florida Department of Transportation and FEC each will provide $10.9 million, and Miami-Dade County/Port of Miami will provide $4.8 million for the project.

After construction is completed in a few years, FEC expects to divert 60,000 containers annually that currently are transported by truck between the port and Hialeah Yard in Miami. The port will be able to capture additional container traffic from Latin America, South America and Asia, according to the railroad.