PALMETTO, Fla. — A Palmetto company says it working with CSX Transportation to launch intermodal service from SeaPort Manatee, a port at the entrance to Tampa Bay in Palmetto County, to the Northeast.
The Bradenton Herald reports Daniel Blazer and his father, Robert Blazer, owners of World Direct Shipping, appeared at Thursday’s meeting of the Manatee County Port Authority to announce the project. It would see World Direct Shipping, which operates between the port and four locations in Mexico, bring goods manufactured in Mexico to the Florida port, from which they would be shipped to an inland port in Chambersburg, Pa., for distribution throughout the Northeast.
Robert Blazer told the meeting that a deal with CSX is “pretty much finalized,” and that the railroad is requesting 8,000 feet of track at the port, as well as 24-hour terminal access. Among work needed to launch the proposal is the development of a multi-modal yard to be located adjacent to the port’s intermodal center. The Blazers say they hope to have the rail service up and running within 12 months.
Port authority officials welcomed the proposals but expressed concerns about funding and security issues, with port director Carlos Buqueras saying funding for the needed improvements “remains to be determined.”
Get the cigars from Ybor City handy for this one…
If they want to do business let them pay for it, not the Florida taxpayers.
Why argue about CPKS and the Meridian Speedway? Bypass Laredo completely and ship it to Tampa by barge. CN is doing that via Mobile today. CN says it cuts 2 days off transit times to Chicago.