CSX Congratulates National Gateway Coalition on Receiving Federal Stimulus Funds Through the TIGER Program
18 February 2010 - 5:23AM
PR Newswire (US)
Funding Will Launch Intermodal Project to Create Jobs, Strengthen
Nation's Infrastructure JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 17
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CSX today congratulated Ohio Governor
Ted Strickland, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Pennsylvania
Governor Ed Rendell, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, West Virginia
Governor Joe Manchin and the National Gateway coalition on the
award of $98 million in Transportation Investment Generating
Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant money. The funds will go
immediately to construction projects that enhance the use of fuel
efficient and environmentally-friendly freight rail. "The entire
National Gateway coalition has shown extraordinary vision,
dedication and commitment," said Michael Ward, chairman, president,
and chief executive officer of CSX. "Supporting this investment
creates jobs now and improves America's transportation system and
competitive advantage over the long-haul." By creating a more
efficient double-stack cleared rail corridor between East Coast sea
ports and consumption centers and Midwest distribution centers, the
National Gateway will yield an estimated $22 in public benefits for
every dollar of public money invested. This public-private
partnership will create greater capacity for goods moving in and
out of the Midwest, reducing transit times between coastal ports
and major population centers by 24 to 48 hours; reduce highway
congestion and transportation emissions; and create over 50,000
jobs. Double-stack clearances allow trains to carry nearly twice as
much freight on the same number of trains. Already, trains can move
a ton of freight more than 436 miles on a single gallon of fuel,
making rail transportation three times more fuel-efficient than
over-the-road alternatives. The increased freight capacity will
improve the nation's economy and environment. The National Gateway
is supported by a broad coalition that includes governors and
regional officials across six states, more than three dozen members
of Congress, three port authorities, and a large number of global
shippers, ocean carriers, business organizations and environmental
groups. The TIGER Discretionary Grant program is part of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The federal funds will help
complete the $842 million project, to which sponsoring states have
pledged $189 million and CSX has contributed $395 million. CSX
Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the leading
transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and
rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation
network spans 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and
the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean,
river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and
its subsidiaries is available at the company's web site,
http://www.csx.com/. DATASOURCE: CSX Corporation CONTACT: Bob
Sullivan, CSX Corporation, +1-1-877-835-5279 Web Site:
http://www.csx.com/
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