PROJECTS

Status: Phase 1 Complete

Description: The Navy Business Case evaluates the feasibility of a dual-use military and commercial air cargo operation that leverages existing infrastructure to enhance mission readiness, logistics efficiency, and long-term resilience. The analysis assesses market demand, operational considerations, and economic impacts to inform future investment and stakeholder coordination.

Benefit: Improve national defense readiness, strengthen supply-chain resilience, and support long-term economic development.

Status: 30% Preliminary Design Complete

Description: The 11-mile rail extension project focuses on expanding existing rail infrastructure to improve the seamless movement of heavy freight and equipment between regional hubs and the facility. This project involves the strategic design and laying of new trackage to bridge critical gaps in the current transportation network, allowing for higher-capacity throughput and improved scheduling reliability.

Benefits:

Strategic Capacity: Increases the volume of heavy cargo that can be processed simultaneously, supporting large-scale industrial or military deployments.

Economic Integration: Connects local commerce to the national rail grid, making the region more attractive for industrial investment and long-term job growth.

Status: Multi-Phase / In Progress

Description: The PALH infrastructure initiative is a comprehensive suite of projects designed to modernize the transportation corridor in Pointe à la Hache. Key components include the PALH Access Road Project, which enhances safety and functionality from LA Highway 23 to the riverfront, the complete replacement of the ferry landing, and the introduction of a state-of-the-art electric-diesel ferry. Together, these upgrades revitalize a critical transit link, ensuring the facility remains a reliable hub for residents and industry alike.

Benefits:

Public Safety & Accessibility: Upgrades lighting, road surfacing, and parking to provide a safer, more efficient experience for daily commuters and ferry riders.

Operational Sustainability: Leverages hybrid electric-diesel technology for the new vessel, significantly reducing local emissions and long-term fuel costs.

Inland Resilience: Replaces aging landing infrastructure with modern engineering to secure a vital cross-river connection against environmental and operational wear.

Status: Planning & Permitting

Description: This project involves the complete modernization of the former Plaquemines Parish Government building in Belle Chasse. The renovation focuses on creating a high-performance, energy-efficient workspace that serves as the central command for Port operations. The facility will house the Port’s executive leadership, communications team, and administrative functions, reflecting the Port’s professional rebranding.

Benefits:

• Operational Centralization: Consolidates port leadership and administrative staff into a single, modern hub for better coordination.

• Sustainability Leadership: Incorporates green building standards that prioritize employee health and reduce the Port’s long-term utility costs.

• Stakeholder Visibility: Provides a professional, accessible location for community engagement and international business meetings.

Status: Engineering 

Description: This critical infrastructure project addresses the "bottleneck" at the intersection of rail and local road traffic. By engineering a grade-separated bridge and bypass, the project allows for continuous freight movement while maintaining local traffic flow on LA Highway 23. This project is essential for supporting the increased rail volume generated by the 11-mile rail extension and the new container terminal.

Benefits:

• Community Safety: Eliminates wait times at rail crossings for residents and emergency responders.

• Intermodal Fluidity: Facilitates the rapid movement of cargo from the port to the New Orleans Public Belt and beyond.

• Scalable Logistics: Provides the necessary road and rail capacity to support Phase 2 expansion of the maritime facilities.