The Jacksonville Port Authority moved closer to construction of an intermodal container transfer facility at its Dames Point Marine Terminal by qualifying 13 vendors to design and build the facility.
The proposed seven-track rail yard near the terminal will help reduce truck traffic moving cargo from ships at the terminal to a rail yard in West Jacksonville.
The port has proposed to locate the facility to the east of Interstate 295 near Dames Point.
"It's a big step toward putting this investment to good use generating jobs while continuing to grow Jacksonville's already considerable attractiveness to shippers. As the industry demands more efficiencies, the ICTF adds another reason for the focus to shift here and helps us maximize the use of public assets to create opportunity for the private sector," said Roy Schleicher, interim CEO of JaxPort.
The qualifying companies are:
• Dana B. Kenyon Co., Jacksonville
• Hubbard Construction Co., Winter Park, with offices in Jacksonville
• Transdevelopment Group, offices in Atlanta, Portland. Ore., Mexico and London
• Polivka International Co., Charlotte, N.C., with offices in Ohio and Texas
• Ragnar Benson Construction, Park Ridge, Ill.
• Krech Ojard & Associates, Duluth, Minn.
• J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Jacksonville
• Herzog Contracting, St. Joseph, Mo.
• Balfour Beatty, London, office in Fleming Island
• Gonzalez and Sons Equipment, Medley
• Superior Construction Co., Jacksonville
• Batson-Cook Co., West Point, Ga., with an office in Jacksonville
• The Haskell Co., Jacksonville.
The port plans to select a short list of qualified candidates from the group by Wednesday.
The project is funded through a $20 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation and $10 million from a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III grant. The port has estimated the project cost at about $24 million.
The project includes site development and construction of a seven-track rail yard that will use cranes to load and unload cargo from trains. An access road into the facility, stormwater ponds and drainage and an administration building are included in the project.
The project will use a design-build method.
After the short list of qualified candidates has been set, the port will release July 26 a request for proposals from the candidates.
"We hope to have a recommendation for award notification to present to the board of directors at its September meeting," said Joe Miller, senior director of facilities development at the port.
Miller estimated the project could be completed 18 months after a firm is selected.
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JaxPort ICTF qualified applicants
• Dana B. Kenyon Co., Jacksonville
• Hubbard Construction Co., Winter Park, Fl., with offices in Jacksonville
• Transdevelopment Group, offices in Atlanta, Portland, Mexico, London
• Polvika International Co., Charlotte, N.C., with offices in Ohio and Texas
• Ragnar Benson Construction, Park Ridge, Ill.
• Krech Ojard & Associates, Duluth, Minn.
• J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Jacksonville
• Herzog Contracting, St. Joseph, Mo.
• Balfour Beatty, London, with office in Fleming Island
• Gonzalez and Sons Equipment, Medley, Fl.
• Superior Construction Co., Jacksonville
• Batson-Cook Co., West Point, Ga., with office in Jacksonville
• The Haskell Co., Jacksonville