TRANSLOAD FACILITY PROJECT
In March 2006, Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, using funding provided by NYS DOT, US DOC EDA, and WNYP, began a feasibility and site selection study relating to the phased construction and operation of rail-highway freight transfer facility to be located somewhere along the New York State portion of the Southern Tier Extension.  The first phase was to involve construction of a transload facility, with potential future phases, if justified by freight volume and market demand, to involve satellite marine terminal/inland port designation, intermodal container operations, and a nearby business or industrial park development.  The study demonstrated commercial viability for the first phase transload facility, and also recommended location of the transload facility at the WNYP rail yard in Olean NY.

In January 2009, Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, using the same funding provided by NYS DOT, US DOC EDA, and WNYP, undertook a preliminary engineering study for the construction of the transload facility at the Olean rail yard site.  This engineering report, along with technical appendices, is available at http://www.southerntierwest.org/html/publications.htm.

In 2009, based upon these results, and the express indication by NYS DOT that it would encourage and help fund the construction of the first phase transload facility, STERA decided to sponsor the project, agreeing to construct and own the facility, with operation to be leased to a third party private sector company to be selected at a later date.  STERA decided that it would be advantageous to build the transload facility in phases, as construction funds became available.  In 2009, STERA submitted an application for TIGER funding to US DOT.  The proposed TIGER funding would include funds for both ongoing rail line rehabilitation activities and first phase funding of the transload facility construction project.  US DOT has indicated that it will announce funding decisions in February 2010.