Chattanooga Engineers Club Meeting (see logistics on Home page)
Murray County Inland Port
Speaker: Illya S. Copeland Executive Director Murray County Industrial Development Authority
The public-private partnership between Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Murray County and CSX Transportation was established in 2015, to construct the Appalachian Regional Port in Chatsworth. Its service area will include North Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and parts of Kentucky. There will be direct rail access to the new inland port, which will expand access for domestic and international shippers.
Port officials estimate the CSX rail route will reduce Atlanta truck traffic by 40,000 moves annually, creating a new intermodal option to and from the deepwater Port of Savannah. Each container moved by rail to the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 355 truck miles on Georgia highways. The inland port being located in an industrial belt, can support increase production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, make those commodities more competitive in the global market. Moving more containers to rail will also reduce carbon emissions.
Illya Copeland, who previously was executive director of the Joint Development Authority of Jeff Davis County, Hazlehurst and Denton in south Georgia, is working with businesses interested in opening in Murray County. He is also setting up industrial parks in Murray County. Mr. Copeland will provide updates since the 2015 announcement, as well as plans for the port.
Members please Register to receive a PDH certificate for 1.0 hours.