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Ports of Indiana July 30 announced several initiatives aimed at expanding state ports' economic-development role, including a study analyzing the construction of an inland rail intermodal terminal.


Officials of Ports of Indiana, a quasi-governmental organization that operates a statewide system of ports, believe an inland rail port would tap into the state's rapidly increasing intermodal traffic.


"There is an enormous opportunity for Indiana to leverage the state's strategic location as the 'crossroads of America' and its extensive freight
transportation assets," said W. Ken Massengill, Indiana Port Commission chairman, in a prepared statement.


Indiana ports annually handle 75 million tons of cargo, which ranks
15th among U.S. states. More than half of Indiana's border is water, including 400 miles of direct access to two major freight transportation arteries: Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway (via Lake Michigan) and Inland Waterway System (via the Ohio River).


Ports of Indiana plans later this year to host a freight and logistics symposium, and commission a feasibility study to identify specific intermodal-freight opportunities and possible direct state benefits.