Economic development officials want to add rail service into Dayton International Airport by 2014, saying it could attract more growth for the logistics and distribution industry in the area.
The ability to transfer cargo between rail, air and truck transport, similar to the multimodal capability of Rickenbacker International Airport at Columbus, could increase the Dayton region’s appeal as a business location for warehouse operations, as well as manufacturers, they said.
“It diversifies your options and your appeal to a wider audience of companies looking to invest and locate,” said Shelley Dickstein, Dayton’s assistant city manager for strategic development.
“It just adds to your total logistics package,” said Dwight Smith-Daniels, a specialist in logistics and supply chain management who is also the chairman of the department of information systems and operations management at Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business.
Montgomery County officials, in a request to Ohio for funds to do engineering and environmental studies to extend rail service into the airport, said that lack of rail access was a factor last year when the Johnson & Johnson health care products division, after considering a location near the Dayton airport, chose a site near the Indianapolis airport.
The plan for extending rail service to the Dayton airport includes extending an existing CSX rail spur that connects with the mainline route from Cincinnati to Toledo.
CSX idled the Vandalia spur more than five years ago, but still owns the right of way, said Carla Groleau, a CSX spokeswoman.
“CSX is always looking to develop new freight business, and we have been in good discussions with the county regarding the prospects for this area,” Groleau wrote in an e-mail response to a reporter’s questions.
Not everyone thinks adding rail service at an airport is worthwhile. Michael Boyd, an aviation industry consultant, said he sees few business opportunities because most companies choose either rail cargo or air cargo to serve their distinct markets and shipping deadlines.
“It’s one of those trendy things consultants dream up,” said Boyd, president of Boyd Group International in Evergreen, Colo.
“At best, I think it’s probably not a good use of money.” But others disagree. Johan Henriksen, a vice president with Clayco Inc., a St. Louis-based developer and construction company involved in the Caterpillar and Payless distribution center projects, said rail shipping capacity at the airport would be another attraction to complement the Dayton region’s available land, workforce and business-friendly communities.
“Having rail, it’s just another tool that you can win investment with,” Henriksen said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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