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September 2007
CN Rail To Construct Customs Facility in KEDA Business Park
CN Rail, as part of a larger overall investment strategy, has begun construction of a customs facility in the Koochiching Economic Development Authority's (KEDA) Business Park south of the Port of Ranier. The $5 million (US) project will involve placing additional track at the current siding and the construction of a building to accommodate additional container traffic from the Port of Prince Rupert.
The Port of Ranier is the second busiest rail crossing along the northern border. The KEDA has been working on the creation of a rail-served business park for several years. Portions of the site were designated as a Foreign Trade Zone in 2003 as an additional incentive to attract rail customers importing products into the United States.
Paul Nevanen, Director of the KEDA, said that the CN Project could open the door to additional opportunities in the area.
"We've been trying to position ourselves to take advantage of the tremendous growth in rail and container traffic. We feel that the timing of this project validates our belief that our location coupled with our Foreign Trade Zone status will provide opportunities to serve the growing rail business. We're excited by the investment and the possible partnership with the CN."
The project will use approximately 10 acres of the 90-acre park and Nevanen hopes that the park will eventually support general purpose warehousing for a variety of users.
"Our location in the geographic middle of the country, our relative low cost of land, the lack of congestion, as well as the quality of our supporting transportation system, provides an attractive location," added Nevanen.
The project is scheduled for completion by early November of this year.
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