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State Benefits

States stand to realize valuable benefits from the National Gateway. New jobs, increased tax collection, improved railway reliability, and the diversion of heavy trucks from crowded commuter highways will lead to reduced emissions and highway maintenance costs and improved road safety. Passenger rail in urban areas where Amtrak and commuter rail service are heavily utilized should also experience increased service reliability as a result of less-congested rail lines.

While the route structure is already in place, the National Gateway will provide the necessary capacity, facilities, and equipment for highly efficient, environmentally friendly advanced rail service. Funding for development will come from both public and private sources, with public benefits of $36 expected for every $1 of public money invested.

Expanding capacity on our nation’s railways will bolster environmental health, promote economic growth, create jobs, and reduce highway congestion.

Maryland Benefits

The National Gateway delivers more than $2 billion of public benefits to Maryland:

  • Over 2.5 million tons reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
  • Almost $90 million savings in highway maintenance costs
  • More than $450 million savings in logistics costs

The National Gateway will provide competitive intermodal service between the Port of Baltimore and Midwest metro areas. A new Northwest Ohio transfer yard and double-stack clearances will improve existing service and expand freight shipping options between Maryland and Midwest markets by 114 percent.

Ohio Benefits

The National Gateway delivers more than $1.7 billion of public benefits to Ohio:

  • 2 million tons reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
  • Nearly $70 million savings in highway maintenance costs
  • $350 million savings in logistics costs

As part of the National Gateway, the new state-of-the-art Northwest Ohio Terminal will revolutionize regional freight transportation, improve existing service and expand freight shipping options between the Midwest and Mid Atlantic ports and metro areas. The National Gateway will also bring new economic opportunities and thousands of jobs to the state.

West Virginia Benefits

The National Gateway delivers $160 million of public benefits to West Virginia:

  • 300,000 ton reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
  • $10 million savings in highway maintenance costs
  • $55 million savings in logistics costs

The National Gateway will expand rail service to and through West Virginia, connecting the state to major East Coast and Western markets via a new intermodal terminal near Pittsburgh, PA. These new service options will make West Virginia more competitive in both the U.S. and global marketplace.

North Carolina Benefits

The National Gateway delivers nearly $650 million of public benefits to North Carolina:

  • Over 1 million ton reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
  • $40 million savings in highway maintenance costs
  • $200 million savings in logistics costs

Expansion of the Charlotte intermodal terminal as part of the National Gateway will bring new economic opportunities and many jobs to the state, as well as augment the Port of Wilmington's ability to handle goods going to and coming from world markets. The new Northwest Ohio Terminal Facility and double-stack clearances will improve existing intermodal service and expand freight shipping options between North Carolina and Midwest markets.

District of Columbia Benefits

The National Gateway delivers almost $250 million of public benefits to the District of Columbia:

  • Eliminates key passenger (Amtrak/MARC/VRE) and freight bottlenecks by providing an efficient double-stack and double-track route through the District
  • Enhances rail transportation infrastructure to attract new business and jobs to the region
  • Expands rail service to the District's markets and reducing overall freight shipping costs on goods entering and leaving the Baltimore-Washington region

Pennsylvania Benefits

The National Gateway delivers more than $1.6 billion of public benefits to Pennsylvania:

  • 2.5 million tons reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
  • $85 million savings in highway maintenance costs
  • Nearly $450 million savings in logistics costs

The newly completed intermodal terminal in Chambersburg, as well as the terminal planned for Pittsburgh, will bring new economic opportunities and thousands of jobs to the state. These terminals, as well as a new terminal in Northwest Ohio, will improve existing intermodal service and expand freight shipping options for Pennsylvania.

Virginia Benefits

The National Gateway delivers almost $950 million of public benefits to Virginia:

  • 3 million tons reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
  • $70 million savings in highway maintenance costs
  • Over $550 million savings in logistics costs

The National Gateway will improve the flow of freight by rail, enhancing Virginia's consumer options and augmenting the Virginia Port Authority's ability to handle goods going to and from world markets. A new Northwest Ohio transfer yard and double-stack clearances will improve existing service and expand freight shipping options between Virginia and Midwest markets by 141 percent.