The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) Board of Commissioners awarded a $2,209,635 contract to Cycle Construction Company LLC for construction on the NOPB Transloading Industrial Park off Jourdan Road in New Orleans East. The completed project will provide a site for shippers to move freight more efficiently between rail and truck into America’s heartland.

“The Port of New Orleans and the NOPB continue to provide multimodal infrastructure improvements to move freight more efficiently through our global gateway,” said Port NOLA President & CEO and NOPB CEO, Brandy D. Christian. “These upgrades not only offer customers and railroad partners a competitive edge, but also will help grow the economy and bring jobs to the region. We are grateful to State of Louisiana DOTD for their generous support in granting us the opportunity to enhance our railroad infrastructure.”

The total project cost is $3 million and will be funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Shortline Railroad Priority Program as well as a $1.5 million funding match from NOPB.

“Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development was pleased to select the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad’s project as one of the first projects for the new Shortline Rail Improvement Program,” said Dean Goodell, Freight and Passenger Rail Director for LADOTD’s Office of Multimodal Commerce. “We look forward to providing additional funding in the future to NOPB through this critical program.”

The property, which is owned by the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA), is located on Terminal Road and will serve a new NOPB customer while also facilitating business growth in the area by adding cost-effective shipping options with access to new markets. Once finished, the transload yard will have the capacity to service up to 21 railcars. Infrastructure improvements including three additional rail tracks, rail switching capabilities, drainage and road upgrades will also be made.

“The NOPB Transloading Industrial Park will allow new and current operators to enter or expand in the New Orleans market,” said NOPB General Manager Tomeka Watson Bryant. “This is another example of the NOPB growing its network and continuing to provide safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable rail service.”

Construction on the NOPB Transloading Industrial Park is expected to begin in April 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2024.

Port NOLA is the only deepwater port in the United States that is connected to all of the nation’s 6 class I railroads. NOPB is a Class III railroad on the nation’s fourth-largest rail gateway that serves the Port of New Orleans, industries and connects directly with six class I railroads. These railroads comprise a 132,000-plus mile network of track that tie Port NOLA and the supply chain directly to every U.S. market and Canada.

NOPB’s main classification yard, Cotton Warehouse Yard, is located in Uptown New Orleans near the corporate headquarters. Two additional yards, Claiborne and France yards, serve Downtown customers. The NOPB system also includes four storage yards: Pauline, Race St., East Bridge, and South yards.