Inland Port Greer: Upstate Express Corridor Rail Infrastructure and Terminal Expansion

Abstract: In 2013 the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) opened a rail served inland port in Greer, SC. Inland Port Greer (IPG) served as an important addition to the supply chain of South Carolina as it extended the reach of the SCPA from the Charleston Harbor inland 212 miles and provided direct service by Norfolk Southern (NS) along its mainline route between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. The primary goal of this development was to facilitate the efficient flow of imports and exports between Charleston and the Upstate with overnight rail service (Upstate Express). This terminal also has the added benefit of attracting cargo from inland markets as customers benefit from supply chain efficiencies and the reduced emissions from moving more cargo by rail.

In the first six years of operation the terminal quickly went from making its first rail lifts to consistently exceeding over 150,000 rail lifts per year. Concurrently, growth in the upstate SC region quickly outpaced projections and the subsequent increased demand for container storage and processing space on the terminal facilitated the need for augmenting the IPG container yard and support facilities. Using a 25 year planning horizon the project team identified a project scope that included: (i) Addition of 9,700 feet of rail infrastructure for onsite storage and processing, as well as two siding track extensions leading up to the terminal, (ii) Expansion of the Container Yard to the East and West by over 15 acres, (iii) Doubling the size of the existing on-site chassis yard, and (iv) the addition of two new buildings to house growing staff for Terminal Operations and Heavy Lift Maintenance. The project was awarded a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant in 2019 and following procurement and project set up, construction began in 2021. All construction projects have been let, or are underway, and all project elements are slated for completion in early 2025.

This project was not without its set of challenges and this paper will briefly describe these along with the processes used to resolve each. These challenges included renting offsite storage facilities for empty containers to handle peak surges of container demand during construction, maintaining project funding through federal and local sources in a dynamic construction environment, coordination and sequencing of each project to minimize impacts to terminal operations, accommodating utility relocations with internal and external stakeholders within the project area, and adapting our marketing strategy to attract and retain interested bidders for each project component. This paper also shares insight into why the inland port has been such a success and how timely infrastructure improvements have allowed the SCPA to accommodate more containers and trains to meet our customers’ needs and maintain a key logistics link for the economic development growth of the region.

How does this project / topic contribute to the advancement of the industry and profession?: This terminal development and the expansion project provide an example of how effective improvements to inland transportation infrastructure can yield immediate results and add resilience to the regional supply chain. The interdependent relationship between inland infrastructure and marine infrastructure demonstrated by this paper serves as an important reminder.

Does the project / topic implement new and innovative techniques, materials, technologies, and delivery methods?: Rail service maximizes tonnage moved per gallon of fuel for importers and exporters, helping them reduce costs and lower their carbon footprint. IPG adds the additional benefit of access to empty containers for regional shippers, who can send trucks to Greer for the containers they need so that they can move their goods to markets around the world.

What was the most challenging aspect of your project / topic and how did you handle it to ensure success?: One of the most challenging aspects of the project was maintaining project momentum in a dynamic construction cost environment. From receiving only one bid, to receiving 6 non-responsive bids, we had to adjust our tactics in a variety of ways when it came to marketing the projects to reach and maintain interested (and available) contractors.

Who is the target audience for this paper?: The target audience for this paper is Port and Terminal Operators (Inland & Marine), Infrastructure Developers, Design Consultants, Government and Regulatory Staff, and Contractors