CSX Pittsburgh Intermodal Rail Terminal

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Development of intermodal terminals has become a key priority for the freight transportation sector, providing a variety of benefits. They facilitate transport, of course, ultimately helping industry reduce costs and pass along savings to consumers – while delivering significant environmental and public benefits.

For the new Pittsburgh-area facility, CSX acquired a vacant, 70-acre rail yard, located just west of Pittsburgh’s city limits along the river in Allegheny County, to support its national intermodal freight transportation. Then it engaged Michael Baker to help develop its state-of-the-art terminal and serve as the owner’s representative in overseeing the construction of the project.

Preparing the long-vacant industrial site posed its share of challenges. As is the case with most brownfield sites, years of industrial operations can leave behind contaminants and old materials that require removal and mitigation measures. Michael Baker worked to ensure the site was fully restored in a safe, environmentally friendly manner, navigating strict guidelines and preserving an important water line that runs through the site.

After two years of construction, the Pittsburgh Intermodal Rail Terminal debuted in September 2017, featuring two processing tracks, one support track, one lead track and three administration/operations buildings with the potential to expand the terminal by two additional processing tracks and two additional support tracks, essentially doubling the capacity of the terminal. The site also includes three large, rubber-tired gantry cranes capable of stacking containers four high between trucks and trains, which currently gives the facility an annual lift capacity of 50,000 intermodal containers.

The state-of-the-art intermodal rail terminal stands as a testament to the resurgent freight transportation industry and the importance of moving raw materials and manufactured goods efficiently and cost-effectively across the country and around the world.