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Last month, Norfolk Southern Corp. selected sites in Alabama and Tennessee for intermodal terminals to be built along the proposed Crescent Corridor. Now, the Class I has chosen a site in Pennsylvania for another terminal to be located on the 2,500-mile intermodal corridor.

Yesterday, NS announced plans to build a $95 million terminal in the planned Antrim Commons Business Park in Greencastle, Pa. Expected to open in late 2011, the 200-acre facility will be designed to handle more than 85,000 containers and trailers annually, and serve four intermodal trains daily.

NS’ proposed Crescent Corridor would run between the Northeast and Southeast, from New Jersey to Louisiana. The railroad plans to implement the corridor initiative through a series of public-private partnerships. Currently, NS is in the process of implementing several projects, such as straightening curves, adding passing tracks, improving signal systems and building terminals, including a $112 million facility in McCalla, Ala., and $129 terminal in Rossville, Tenn.

In addition to building the Greencastle terminal, the Class I plans to improve existing Pennsylvania terminals in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, and spend $27 million in the state to upgrade track and signals. When the Crescent Corridor is operational in Pennsylvania, about 700,000 long-haul trucks in the state will be diverted to rail, 10 million gallons of fuel will be saved and carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 110,000 tons, according to NS.
 
“Because of its strategic location to key markets in the Mid-Atlantic region, the new [Greencastle] terminal is vital to the success of our Crescent Corridor,” said NS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Wick Moorman in a prepared statement.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has requested $45 million in state funding over three years for the corridor, which would be matched by NS’ $79 million commitment and an anticipated $61 million in federal support. Rendell also plans to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for $300 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for the project.

“Over the next 10 years, the Crescent Corridor could mean up to 26,000 jobs created or enhanced in Pennsylvania,” he said.