The Joint Intermodal Task Force for Transportation and Logistics during a press conference Oct. 30 announced its report and recommendations to pursue efforts to create a hub in the Toledo area for freight distribution by air, sea, rail and truck.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, three members of Toledo City Council, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and other civic and economic leaders attended the conference.

To make the project a success, Finkbeiner called upon members of the private and public sectors, as well as the state and federal government, to support the effort, adding “it’s time for Toledo and its region to step up.”

“This report is a major breakthrough [and] accomplishment in terms of economic development for Northwestern Ohio, perhaps Southeast Michigan as well,” Finkbeiner said. “For roughly two decades there has been discussion about Toledo and Northwestern Ohio being an Intermodal hub.”

Jim Tuschman, committee chairman, presented the five recommendations made in the report and explained the process by which the committee reached its conclusions. He emphasized recognizing the “intermodal assets” indigenous to the area, such as the intersection of three major highway systems, access to the St. Lawrence Seaway and an international cargo hub at Toledo Express Airport capable of handling large aircraft.

“This region has probably the best strategic geography for Intermodal transportation,” Tuschman said. “We have a location that puts us within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population and 60 percent of the country’s industrial base.”

The committee recommended a site on Airline Junction, off Hill Avenue, to house the facility over potential sites including the airport, Toledo Lucas County Port and North Baltimore. The report also suggested regional economic development strategies to maximize the investment.

The project would require a new customs facility at the airport as well as a modern crane capable of faster unloading to replace the existing equipment install more than 50 years ago.

“The next step is to implement these recommendations, to keep the momentum going,” Tuschman said.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm and is filed under Breaking News, Community.
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