The OnTrackMississippi Stakeholder Knowledge Base

Convening Industry, Government and Citizenry to Create Sustainable Supply Chains and Communities in Mississippi

This knowledge base is a product and service of Strategic Rail Finance Corp. and OnTrakNorthAmerica

Purpose

• This is the place to get involved! Individuals and organizations who want to track or work on OTM goals are invited to apply for subscription to this knowledge base.
• The purpose of this knowledge base is to establish a real time working environment for stakeholders to store, study and act on OnTrackMississippi (OTM) goals.
• Content will be refreshed by OTM knowledge base participants and support staff.

Moves

OnTrackMississippi Moves is the place where we post the most interesting items related to moving OTM projects forward. Its more than news its the moves.

Core Principles and Ethics

OnTrackMississippi is a project of OnTrackNorthAmerica and therefore subscribes to the core principles and ethics of OTNA

Goals

• Restore viable Rosedale Port rail infrastructure and service.
• Increase collaboration and coopetition with local and regional supply chain stakeholders
• Identify and engage in the development of OTM rail service including the regional landscape of industrial development properties, transportation assets and dynamics, and regional supply chains
• Use rail development as a catalyst for economic development

Tasks

• Use the Strategic Rail Finance Port of Rosedale Report on rail based economic development for the reopening of the Great River Railroad as an entry point for ongoing work on OTM goals and projects
  • You can click on the link provided here to see more detailed questions and answers related to the goals. Please provide you comments in the discussion tabs on each subject page.
• You are invited to work with OTNA/OTM staff facilitators and consultants and other stakeholders to accomplish the following:
  • Maintain summaries of public-sector transportation plans, economic development strategy documents and economic data
  • Monitor plans for the Rosedale Port's contemplated rail, truck, and barge facilities, including track layout, existing nearby track characteristics, and available land within and near the property.
  • Participate in stakeholders' interview summaries and possibly help synthesize input into advancing OTM goals and opportunities. (Note: security for politically and commercially sensitive input will be closely monitored. If you have further questions on this please ask the facilitator.)
    • For example, interviews with the most knowledgeable and connected individuals and organizations on the county and the region’s manufacturing, natural resource, and agricultural activity, including port management, leading academics, local business owners, state and local officials, trade associations, shippers, transportation providers, and transload operators.  
• Support research, brainstorming, and networking conversations to generate ideas and leads for the best conception of Port of Rosedale rail and truck infrastructure and services and a profile of and referrals to prospective tenants and users.
  • Support dialogue with the management of other Mississippi and Arkansas River ports.
  • Support dialogue with other economic development leaders who may be interested in revitalizing rail service in the state.  
  • Support dialogue with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Mississippi Development Authority.
• Support collaboration with Genesee and Wyoming, Inc. and its subsidiary railroad, Columbus & Greenville Railway, to advance ideas and establish parameters for new rail services at the Port of Rosedale and a potential rail line rebuild from Greenville to Rosedale that improve the attractiveness of rail transportation for existing and new businesses.
• Provide input on unique challenges, for example, the dynamics that have led to the closing of the CAGY line between West Point and Greenwood; considering the value of reopening that section to the region's commercial opportunities and rebuilding the line to Port of Rosedale.  
• Provide input on evaluating funding approaches to augment county funding, including federal and private sectors.