By Donovan Estridge, LaPorte Herald-Argus
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- CSX Intermodal confirmed Tuesday that La Porte County is out of the running for a future rail intermodal facility.
"I can confirm everything," CSX spokesman Garrick Francis told The La Porte County Herald-Argus Tuesday. "CSX has no plans in La Porte, Indiana. We are presently working on our own facility in northwest Ohio and we have no plans to construct a facility in Indiana."
According to Francis, the facility in North Baltimore, Ohio, already has the required land for the facility.
"I'm relieved," said Mary Carrera of Union Mills. "I like to think that our fight it over. But it sounds almost too good to be true."
Although La Porte County is out of the running with CSX, Francis did indicate that the company was at one time considering the area.
"I'm sure we had some contact early on," Francis said in regard to speaking to local officials. "But we have no plans right now to come to Indiana."
It was believed that the railroad company from northern Florida had been looking in the Union Mills area. But now that the railroad isn't interested, a future intermodal facility in La Porte County has hit a major snag.
Union Mills was enticing for CSX due to a main-line railroad that went through the area.
But with CSX out of the picture, only the Canadian National Railway is considered a serious contender. That, however, could also be on the back burner with the announcement that Canadian National purchased the EJ&E railroad in the Kirk Yard in Gary.
Because of that acquisition, some believe Canadian National won't want to locate in this area.
The other logical suitor for an intermodal facility is Norfolk & Southern Corp., which has a rail line near the Pinola area. But La Porte County government attorney Shaw Friedman said in October that the railroad wasn't interested in the county.
"There is presently no developer or railroad interested in the area west of La Porte near Pinola," Friedman told The Herald-Argus in October.
Friedman was contacted by the Herald-Argus, but had no comment for this story.
Intermodal Task Force co-chairman Dave Christian says he knows little about recent reports, but can say that the county is talking to a real estate investment trust (REIT) about possible development.
"I am being told that is the only group looking at this," Christian told the Herald-Argus this morning. "This REIT may still have a proposal in January. If and when it comes, we as a task force must make an informed decision."
Robert Williams of Union Mills told The Herald-Argus this morning that he was "very happy to hear that (CSX would not locate in Union Mills)."
"I love the country. I moved out here for the peace and quiet," Williams said. "If they put an intermodal out here, all that is gone. No more quiet, no more stars. I just like to sit out at night and look at the stars."
Williams, however, understands the proposed intermodal could bring economic development that would benefit county residents.
"It's good and bad," Williams said. "We are going to miss out on a lot of jobs. I have a job, so for me it isn't as big of a deal."