VIENNA - Who wants rail service?
As part of its strategic planning process, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport has released a freight rail demand survey to gather input on the level of demand for freight rail services among Mahoning Valley businesses, especially related to opportunities arising from the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays.
The survey results will be included in the Rail & Pipeline Feasibility Analysis that the airport, Western Reserve Port Authority and Trumbull County Engineer's Office have jointly commissioned.
"The survey will help us to quantify the market opportunity and then determine whether the share of freight rail volume we could expect will justify the capital investment necessary to extend rail service to the airport property," said Dan Dickten, director of aviation for the airport, in a release.
The airport hired Cleveland-based Silverlode Consulting Corp. to prepare the Rail & Pipeline Feasibility Analysis.
"The feasibility analysis will provide the YWRA with a framework to evaluate the potential return on investment and economic development impacts associated with the extension of freight rail services to the Airport," said Jason Hamman, a senior consultant at Silverlode.