Two enhanced rail infrastructure projects that will stimulate economic growth and offer cost-effective shipping options are more than 85% complete. NEW ORLEANS — Exciting news out of the Big Easy today as the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) shared significant progress on two major infrastructure enhancement projects: the Transloading Industrial Park and the Claiborne Yard expansion.
The NOPB Transloading Industrial Park, located off Jourdan Road in New Orleans East, is poised to become a critical hub for shippers looking to move freight more efficiently between truck and rail across America’s heartland. Owned by the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA), this new site promises to provide cost-effective shipping options while opening up new markets, thereby fueling economic growth in the region.
Earlier this year, the NOPB Board of Commissioners awarded a $2.2 million contract to Cycle Construction Company LLC for the transload yard’s construction. Since breaking ground in April, the project has progressed rapidly and is now more than 85% complete. The entire project is on track to wrap up in August and will have the capacity to service up to 21 railcars.
Acting Port NOLA President & CEO and Acting NOPB CEO, Ronald Wendel, emphasized the significance of these developments, stating, “We are laser-focused on growing the economy and bringing even more jobs to our region. Infrastructure investments like this allow us to do just that while also moving products more efficiently through the global supply chain.”
The total cost of the Transloading Industrial Park project is $3 million, funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Shortline Railroad Priority Program, matched by $1.5 million from NOPB.
Meanwhile, the Claiborne Yard expansion, supported by a $7.29 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, is nearing completion. This final phase, located near the St. Claude area, will add four additional storage tracks and infrastructure enhancements for more efficient train operations and transloading services. The project, which also broke ground in April, is expected to be completed later this month.
NOPB General Manager Tomeka Watson Bryant expressed pride in these advancements, saying, “We are proud to offer our customers and rail partners a competitive edge. The NOPB Transloading Industrial Park and the Claiborne Yard expansion are examples of how we are growing our network and allowing new and current operators to enter or expand in the New Orleans market.”
In addition to these infrastructure projects, Port NOLA and NOPB have reported double-digit growth in intermodal rail volumes. This growth ensures that goods efficiently reach homes across the nation and businesses move their products seamlessly, driving economic prosperity and job creation for the state and region.
Port NOLA also celebrated record container growth in May, moving a total of 133,845 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) during the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, marking a 19% year-over-year increase and a record quarter not seen since the supply chain disruptions of 2021.
About Port NOLA: The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) is a modern multimodal gateway for global commerce and an in-demand cruise port, providing integrated logistics solutions between river, rail, and road. Strategically located on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico, Port NOLA connects to over 30 major inland hubs and six Class I railroads, reinforcing its role as a vital economic driver.
About NOPB: The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) is a Class III switching railroad dedicated to serving the Port of New Orleans, local customers, and the New Orleans Rail Gateway, connecting six Class I railroads to each other and properties in and near the port complex.
