This article was written for our sponsor, Nash County Economic Development.
Since 1830, railways have been connecting America from coast to coast, allowing passenger travel and the transportation of goods. While airplanes and vehicles have changed the landscape of both shipping and travel, many industries still rely on the ease and speed of rail lines.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Today, CSX Corporation is not only one of the leaders in rail travel, but also a leader in transportation suppliers. With 20,000 miles of tracks spread across 23 states, CSX serves most of the largest population centers in America.
Now, CSX is making its debut in Rocky Mount and making a big impact with future Nash County Development.
"The Carolina Connector, brings a multimodal supply chain solution to the industries in the region," said Kellen Riley, director of business development at the CSX Corporation. "This location is strategically positioned with convenient access to the rail lines in Eastern North Carolina. As a result of that, it can reach more than 5 million consumers within a roughly 120-mile radius. Moreover, the region's manufacturers and producers will benefit from the expanded market reach the terminal provides."
The new intermodal facility in Rocky Mount will be the most advanced in the CSX network, featuring three wide-span, fully automated, zero-emission electric cranes with a total lift capacity of 110,000 containers a year.
"What that offers to local industries and across the region is that it will benefit businesses that want more efficient and reliable freight transportation solutions. It's an incentive to locate to the area, and thereby create cost-effective rail service across Nash and Edgecombe," said Riley. "Businesses can tap into those services, effectively connecting North Carolina to other distribution centers and consumption points across the U.S. The benefit will really come in the form of jobs and growth created by way of indirect and induced economic activity."
With the county already located along I-95 and just a few hours away from ports on the coast, the new CSX rail joins an already strong infrastructure for transportation in Nash County.
The prime location along I-95 was a major reason why the CSX rail decided to move into the area with the intermodal terminal.
"We have been identified by national site consultants as a good location, because of just our location between I-95 and the Research Triangle, specifically for e-commerce cold storage logistic companies. This intermodal is just another piece to the puzzle that is just going to make Nash County even more attractive not just for businesses, but for developers, as well," said Andy Hagy, Nash County's economic development director. "It's all about location, location, location. We're midway between New York and Miami, and within a 30-mile radius of the intermodal terminal and have 500 acres of county-owned industrial land ready for development."
Aside from convenience, rail lines are also more environmentally friendly transportation options. Through the rail facility, both CSX and county officials hope to reduce the number of trucks on the road.
In the midst of a driver shortage, this could serve as an unlikely benefit for surrounding industries.
According to recent studies and articles, distributors and trucking companies are having a hard time finding drivers. The new intermodal rail terminal is estimated to remove 138,000 trucks from the highways which may be helpful for new and existing companies shipping and receiving products.
As e-commerce in particular grows, both Hagy and Riley see the rail line as an effective way to divert some of that traffic, while also increasing job generation in those industries around Nash County.
As more jobs move into the county and spur growth, the generated tax revenue will directly benefit the community. This project expects to generate over 1,300 indirect jobs across the region.
"This is more capital investment, which generates tax revenue [that] helps to fund new schools, public safety and parks. Economic growth will continue to help the county maintain a very low tax rate, making Nash County an even more affordable place, not only to do business but also live," said Hagy.
This article was written for our sponsor, Nash County Economic Development.