Port Authority seeking company input on airport rail service

Staff report

WARREN

Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport is asking for input from companies to help determine the demand for freight rail services in the area.

The airport also wants freight-rail input from companies thinking of expanding into the Mahoning Valley as a result of the Marcellus and Utica shale plays.

The results will be included in a study being conducted at a cost of $29,500 by the Silveroad Consulting Corp. of Cleveland.

The survey can be taken at www.surveymonkey.com/s/freightrailmarketdemand online.

The survey asks participants questions aimed at identifying current and future demand for freight rail services.

“The survey will help us quantify the market opportunity and then determine whether the share of freight rail volume we could expect will justify the capital investment necessary to extend rail service to the airport property,” said Dan Dickten, airport director of aviation.

Western Reserve Port Authority, which runs the airport and conducts economic-development efforts, hired Silverload in August to conduct a rail and pipeline feasibility analysis.

The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office contributed $9,823 toward the cost of the analysis because of the potential benefit to Trumbull County roads if rail or pipeline infrastructure is increased.