State loan to aid Louisiana port’s new rail connection
Louisiana will close a funding gap and provide $1 million for a new port rail line. The post State loan to aid Louisiana port’s new rail connection appeared first on FreightWaves .
The Port of Columbia in Louisiana will receive a $1 million loan from the state to construct a rail spur connecting to Union Pacific's main line, according to a press release. The $7 million project is funded through the Louisiana Economic Development's FastSites program, which helps address a funding gap. The port, situated on a 400-acre site with access to the Ouachita River and U.S. Route 165, is adjacent to Union Pacific's Monroe Subdivision, located 30 miles south of Monroe, La.
Columbia Port Commission President Darron McGuffee stated that the FastSites investment provides the necessary financial flexibility to maintain construction schedules. The project, expected to begin in Q1 2027 and complete by 2028, aims to offer public access to Union Pacific's main line, fostering new transportation opportunities for existing businesses and attracting future industrial investments.
State Senator Glen Womack highlighted that the rail spur will enhance connectivity, benefiting industries already present in the region and creating more possibilities for companies considering investment in the area.
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