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El Paso County to study potential rail park

Posted at 12:33 PM, May 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-03 14:33:04-04

El Paso County Commissioners have approved a study into the viability of establishing an industrial rail park in the southern part of the county.

On Thursday, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding, which will allow several groups to come together to create a comprehensive look at the viability of the proposal. The goal of the project would be to bring new jobs in both the manufacturing sector and logistics.

In a news release sent after Thursday’s meeting the county asserts, the manufacturing sector, which has experienced a significant decline in recent years, has the largest multiplier of any sector, spurring the creation of other jobs and investments, and stimulating more economic activity than any other sector.

An initial review conducted in 2015 was paid for by El Paso County and focused on the possibility of an industrial rail park on a site west of the Ray Nixon power plant. Using rail spurs owned by Colorado Springs Utilities the rail lines of Fort Carson, Burlington North Santa Fe and Union Pacific could have access.

The county will be seeking input from the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation, the Edward C. Levy Company and Colorado Springs Utilities as they complete the study.