A more recent development that's both a reflection of a trend and a harbinger of projects to come came in July, when Norfolk Southern committed $25 million to a new $100-million intermodal facility at the 5,000-acre (2,024-hectare) Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus. The facility will see $17 million from the federal transportation bill, as well as contributions from state and local governments.
      Among the drivers for the new project was inefficient highway access and overuse at a facility in nearby Discovery Park, where the railroad had experienced average annual growth of 14-15 percent recently. Meanwhile, Rickenbacker can boast of 13 industrial parks just to its north for starters. Ultimately, all Ohioans as well as the shippers should benefit, as such facilities are targeted to reduce long-haul truck traffic. The project plan once included the possibility of another runway to be built by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, but that provision has been dropped.
      Phase 1 of the Rickenbacker facility — involving an access roadway extension as well as utility work — should be up and running by late 2005. If demand increases warrant it (and the numbers show no signs of tapering), Phase II would be implemented on the 300-acre (121-hectare) parcel.The facility is similar to successful giant tri-modal developments at Alliance Texas and Alliance California, both developed by Hillwood. And the intermodal concept has certainly been proven to work.
      A recent example is the expanded use of Union Pacific's Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) near the L.A.-Long Beach ports to handle nearly all international marine containers, eliminating some 500,000 annual truck trips from the locally clogged roads. Now the port authorities and UP are looking at expanding the ICTF to handle a projected 1.6 million containers annually, shipping by the Alameda Corridor.

    Sometimes the key piece for this type of infrastructure — like that in the telecom arena — is that "last mile." Even a mere rail spur can help spur company retention and growth. For proof, look no further than two industrial companies in Buffalo, N.Y.
      Working through the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, Buffalo Wire Works and Staroba Plastics are seeing new rail lines of 560 ft. (171 m.) and 1,100 ft. (335 m.), respectively, all paid for by the state's Multi-Modal Transportation Program, which provides reimbursements for authorized rail, port, airport and local highway and bridge projects. Eligible projects must be for a public or freight transportation purpose and have a minimum 10-year bondable service life.
      The project for Staroba, which employs 115, will cost $80,000, while Buffalo Wire Works will see funds of $120,000 for its line. The latter firm, a 120-year-old company born in Buffalo, had said that without the rail service it would need to consider relocating the operation.