Memphis port commission seeks TIGER V grant for major trackwork

The Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission has applied for a $35.3 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) V grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand rail capacity on Presidents Island at the Port of Memphis in southwest Tennessee.

The project calls for building 80,000 linear feet of tracks on the island to encircle 1,500 undeveloped acres, where the commission plans to further develop an industrial area. In addition to the TIGER V grant, the trackwork would be funded by contributions from CN, Cargill and other parties.

The project eventually could help double developed space within the industrial area, according to the commission. Work could start sometime later this year and conclude in July 2015, depending on the TIGER grant.