By Erik Potter and Christin Nance Lazerus, Post-Tribune staff writers
After months of speculation that a large transit facility combining truck and rail was coming to LaPorte County, CSX Corp., the major company rumored to be a part of the project, has said it is no longer interested.
"CSX has no plans at this time to construct an intermodal facility in LaPorte," said Bob Sullivan, spokesman for CSX.
Sullivan said that the railroad has plans to build an intermodal in North Baltimore, Ohio, and is not interested in a second LaPorte County location.
Groups opposed to the controversial development, fearing it would bring unwelcome development and increased pollution, are taking the news in stride.
Posts on the Web sites for No Illiana Toll Road and Stop Intermodals -- Save Our County cited the La Porte Herald Argus article that broke the story and immediately began asking what other railroads remain interested in a LaPorte intermodal.
SISOC member Blair Purcell said the group is "cautiously optimistic" following this latest news.
"We would like to believe that Canadian National would build an intermodal closer to Lake County, possibly in East Chicago or Gary," Purcell said.
"Norfolk Southern doesn't plan to do anything in LaPorte County. But Norfolk Southern does have a three-year plan to build a Heartland corridor connecting the east coast to Chicago, so we're concerned."
Purcell said he thinks CSX was aware of public opposition to the project, but that would not have prevented the project from going forward.
"The proposed site (in Union Mills) did not meet standard intermodal criteria in terms of utilities, with no water, no electricity and no sewage treatment," Purcell said. "Intermodals also need close proximity to interstate highway, which that location didn't have."
Gov. Mitch Daniels' decision to scrap a study of the proposed Illiana Expressway east of Interstate 65 may have sunk the facility's likelihood. The state is still studying a route that would connect I-65 to I-57 in Illinois.