Published: October 19, 2009 11:36 pm      

Lauderdale County creates railroad authority

Region hopes to benefit from widening of Panama Canal

In the hopes of benefitting from a predicted upswing in the use of rail in Mississippi, Lauderdale County has joined five other counties in creating the Regional Railroad Authority of East Mississippi.

The authority, already approved by Greene, George, Wayne, and Clarke counties and awaiting approval by Jackson County, will concentrate on the creation on an accessible railroad line linking East Central Mississippi to the ports of Pascagoula and Mobile, Ala.

Bill Mendenhall, who is part of the authority, said a planned widening of the Panama Canal will increase use of the port of Mobile and that problems with the cost of fuel will increase the use of rail in general.

He said Lauderdale and the other counties involved stand to benefit from the creation of a railroad line connecting them to Mobile.

The authority has applied for millions in federal stimulus grants to create a line connecting Waynesboro to Lucedale and to improve the line connecting Meridian to Waynesboro.

When and if the line is created, the authority will be in charge of it, Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors President Hank Florey said.

But for now, Florey said, "Mainly they'll be seeking a TIGER grant to construct the railroad from Waynesboro to Lucedale, that's the missing link of about 50 miles to get us from here to Mobile or Pascagoula."

County Administrator Mike Sumrall said the predicted upswing in use of the port of Mobile along with a desire to quickly move goods North for fear of hurricanes could lead to Meridian one day becoming a trade hub of sorts, if the railroad is completed.

Each county through which the railroad line runs will appoint five commission members to the authority, and each municipality will appoint one member.

The county approved one year of funding.