(The following story by Schuyler Kropf appeared on the Post and Courier website on May 8, 2009.)
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Pressure to find a solution to the North Charleston port and rail line debate is under a two-week window, spurred on by the likely decision to end the Statehouse session early.
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said Thursday he was “skeptical but hopeful” an agreement could be reached that kills a legislative proposal that would clear the way for rail lines through the north end of the former Navy base.
The destination would be a new ship terminal the State Ports Authority is building on the south end. Barring an agreement, the issue could end up in a protracted legal fight.
Summey met with representatives of Norfolk Southern Railroad and three senior state senators Thursday in Columbia to try to find a path that would make everyone happy. He is steadfast against reintroducing rail from the north, something that would favor Norfolk Southern, saying it would gut 12 years of redevelopment in the former industrial area.
Summey’s stance comes as leading political and business interests want both of the region’s major rail carriers, CSX and Norfolk Southern, both to have access to the new port on the base’s southern end. The current southern set-up seemingly favors CSX.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman said the meeting was worthwhile, though at this point there are no agreements to point to. He did say it is critical that all sides come together.
“I am going to absolutely insist that we have two rail lines serving our port,” said Leatherman, R-Florence. “I am not willing to let one railroad have control of the shipping into and out of our port.”
Leatherman hoped the rail companies would work with one another to make that happen, saying it would be in their best interest. When the ports authority aided in the location of BMW in the Upstate, the railroads, among many other industries, benefited, he said.
“What’s good for our state is good for the rail lines,” Leatherman said.
A major stumbling block is that the two major carriers don’t want to share or cross lines.
“We’re not trying to run over anybody,” added state Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston. “The railroads have got a problem. The state’s got a problem. The city of North Charleston’s got a problem. How do we solve three different parties’ problems with the most consensus?”
The timing pressure for an agreement comes as lawmakers are looking at a May 21 adjournment this year because of state finances and a date far short of the normal adjournment time in June. They do, however, have the option of dealing with port business when they return in June to handle vetoes.
One Statehouse effort with major implications to both the port and North Charleston is an amendment in the State Ports Authority restructuring bill. It would require local officials to transfer the rail line and right of way at the north end of the base to the state’s Division of Public Railways, opening service from the north.
Amending the port bill isn’t the only option but is the most plausible given the running clock.
State Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said the meeting was an opportunity to hear Summey’s concerns while dealing with the logistical problems Norfolk Southern has with southern rail access.
“We’ve got one chance to get this right, and if we don’t, our state will be suffering the economic consequences for the next half century,” he said.
Summey said groups outside of North Charleston should bear the most burden, saying rail lines in other states have been forced to share lines and space before. He argued it could be done here with both train lines having access to the base’s southern end.
He also questioned the need to move on the rail issue this session, saying the time pressure could do more harm than good.
Everyone is pushing agendas about the base and rail, Summey said, “even though we are the people feeling the effect.”