Seven finalists have been selected for the site of a proposed Kansas transload shipping center.
The Kansas Department of Transportation/Kansas Turnpike Authority Transload Facility Site Analysis team selected the finalists from the 111 proposals submitted for consideration. Some communities submitted multiple sites.
The finalists include Abilene, Concordia, El Dorado (Refinery Road site), Garden City (U.S. 50 Industrial Park), Great Bend, Great Plains Industrial Park just south of Parsons, and Norton.
In all, according to KDOT, 111 proposals were submitted — including one from Salina.
“I’m pleased that so many communities in every region of the state submitted proposals. A transload facility has the potential to not only lower shipping costs, it is a job creator and provides economic development opportunities for the export of Kansas products,” said Mike King, Secretary of Transportation and Director of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
The finalists are to make presentations to the KDOT selection committee later this month. The selection committee will hear presentations from the finalists and a final selection is expected in late August.
By blending the benefits of shipping by rail and local/short haul trucking, a transload facility can provide more flexible and cost-effective solutions for customers who may not have local access to freight rail service or those who need expanded warehousing.
Transloading is the process of moving goods from one mode of transportation to another from truck to rail and rail to truck.