The Appalachian Regional Port (ARP), located in Chatsworth, Ga., is now open for business.

The new state-of-the-art facility provides logistics solutions for customers in a 4-state region and removes an estimated 50,000 trucks and 15 million truck miles from local highways every year.

"The ARP is part of our Network Georgia initiative that brings services from the coast to communities around the state," says Griff Lynch, executive director for Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Savannah, Ga. "The new inland terminal will provide the same, superior quality services our customers have come to rely on—congestion-free, easy access, expedited handling and reliability."

Through intermodal rail service from CSX, Jacksonville, Fla., ARP offers customers across North Georgia, Northeast Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky a more efficient option to move cargo to and from Savannah's container port.

"Our job at Georgia's ports is very simple—to build, operate and maintain the very best infrastructure and services in the maritime industry. And, the ARP will be another example of this commitment," says Jimmy Allgood, GPA board chairman. "We appreciate the governor's support for the ARP and other projects that have helped to make our ports what they are today.”

Handling both import and export containers, CSX will provide service on a direct, 388-mile rail route to and from the Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal.

 "CSX is proud to serve regional customers through the ARP, which will unlock new economic opportunities while lowering shipping costs," says Dean Piacente, vice president of CSX intermodal sales and marketing.  

The new rail terminal will be worked by three electric rubber-tired gantry cranes. Each has a lift capacity greater than 40 tons, and working together, can handle 100,000 container lifts per year.

Other benefits of ARP include:

• Sits on 42 acres adjacent to U.S. 411 and features easy access to Interstate 75.
• Will serve as a close and convenient source of empty containers for manufacturers across the region.
• Offers container storage terms—five days free storage for loaded containers; 10-day free storage for empties.
• Each round-trip container moved via the ARP offsets 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.