(The following story by Waylon Strickland appeared on the Circleville Herald website on March 12.)
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Pickaway County and central Ohio are expected to become key players in the global logistics market with the opening of Norfolk Southern’s Rickenbacker Intermodal terminal.
That was the message Monday as a large contingent of politicians and business leaders flocked to Harrison Township to celebrate the terminal’s opening.
Officials are counting on the nearly $70 million facility to spur growth in the warehousing and logistics sector adjacent to the intermodal terminal.
“Logistics and intermodal transport are important to Ohio,” said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. “I’m really proud of Ohio today.”
Champions of the intermodal say eventually a $15.1 billion economic impact and more than 20,000 will benefit central Ohio.
The day was slightly ironic for county commissioner Jay Wippel, who’s family used to farm the land at the corner of Ashville Pike and Rickenbacker Parkway until a couple of years ago, before it was developed for the intermodal.
“I remember standing here watching my corn grow tall and producing a bountiful yield,” Wippel said. “And although there is no longer corn growing here, the infrastructure that has grown will also produce bountiful yields.
“I am proud to have made a living farming this land, and I’m more proud of the many families who will now begin to make a living from this land.”
The intermodal makes Rickenbacker a “hot” transportation hub and make the facility become Ohio’s premier according to Kathy Ransier, chair of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority Board.
“The world will never see central Ohio through the same eyes again,” said Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington.
The development of the intermodal, which was made possible through a public-private partnership between NS and the CRAA, puts Ohio at the forefront of uniting freight, transportation and development, according to Wick Moorman, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern.
“Norfolk Southern is Ohio’s railroad,” Moorman told the gathering, and Strickland said he was happy to designate NS as Ohio’s railroad.
Hyperlogistics, a third-party distribution company, is the only business to have located in the area so far, but officials believe the area is ripe for development now that the intermodal terminal is open.
“As we move into the future, we have many projects to complete, and with each, the entire region will benefit from their economic impact,” Wippel said.