MDOT Responds: 'No Decision' on Intermodal Site

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) said Friday its position hasn't changed in determining a location for a train-truck depot despite assurances from Sen. Ed Kasemeyer earlier in the week that Hanover is not likely to be the site.

For more than a year, from CSX and MDOT to put a freight transfer station known as an "" on Hanover at Race roads, because it is next to a residential area.

The site is one of four under consideration for the facility, which transportation officials say is essential to keep Maryland competitive in the freight industry as the Panama Canal widens in 2014; the facility will be a depot for double-stacking cargo containers on trains and for trucks and trains to swap freight.

MDOT and CSX, which by 2015, have been evaluating the potential impact of the project at four sites—which is part of a .

On Friday, MDOT said it was still continuing to study the four sites, which are in Hanover, Jessup (where there are two sites) and Beltsville.

"The department's position has not changed," said Jack Cahalan, spokesman for MDOT, who said that "study of the original four potential sites continues. As mentioned on the website, it is scheduled for completion late this year."

While giving a legislative wrap-up at a meeting of the Greater Elkridge Community Association on May 24, Kasemeyer—chair of the state's budget and taxation committee, said that there was a stipulation in the budget that MDOT would not receive $500,000 of its appropriation unless it identified other sites near Baltimore and submitted a report to the budget committee by October 2012.

That language was included in the budget that and also the budget that during the special session of the Maryland General Assembly.

"As you are aware, the budget was just passed containing this directive," said Cahalan in response to an inquiry from Elkridge Patch on May 25 about MDOT's response to the legislation. "We will determine an appropriate way to proceed. No decision has been made."

Kasemeyer said he had a "good source" who told him the decision was 99.9 percent made.

"They knew there was a resolve here in fighting this issue, and I think it did have an effect," said Kasemeyer during the Greater Elkridge Community Association meeting at the . "I don't believe it's going to be here. I have a source who told me it's 99.9 percent [certain] that it will not come."