Fort Campbell, KY – A memorandum of agreement between Fort Campbell and the Hopkinsville-Christian County Industrial Development Authority was signed Thursday, February 25th, 2016 during a ceremony at the Eagle Conference Room. The purpose of the agreement is to lay the framework for providing rail access via the Army’s railroad line to the Hopkinsivlle Megasite, located just north of I-24.
The memorandum of agreement is a 1-year renewable document that demonstrates the U.S. Army and Fort Campbell’s commitment to the local community and efforts to further economic development.
![John Mahre, [left] on behalf of the Hopkinsville Christian County Industrial Development Authority and Col. James R. Salome, Fort Campbell’s Garrison Commander, sign a memorandum of agreement Thursday to lay the framework for providing rail access via the Army railroad to the Hopkinsville Megasite, located just north of I-24. Also in attendance are Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks, Jack Lackey, Secretary of the industrial authority Nate Pagan, Steve Tribble and James Duttweiler. (Leejay Lockhart, Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office)](https://www.clarksvilleonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Megasite-Railroad-Memorandum-of-Agreement-Signing-Ceremony-Held-at-Fort-Campbell.jpg "John Mahre, [left] on behalf of the Hopkinsville Christian County Industrial Development Authority and Col. James R. Salome, Fort Campbell’s Garrison Commander, sign a memorandum of agreement Thursday to lay the framework for providing rail access via the Army railroad to the Hopkinsville Megasite, located just north of I-24. Also in attendance are Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks, Jack Lackey, Secretary of the industrial authority Nate Pagan, Steve Tribble and James Duttweiler. (Leejay Lockhart, Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office)")
The Megasite development will include a rail loading facility that the Army can use in case of any problems with the Fort Campbell rail or loading facility.
The Fort Campbell Rail Complex has 37 miles of government-owned rail, with an 18 mile mainline that connects the installation to the interchange tracks in Hopkinsville, according to the memorandum of agreement.
The memorandum of agreement also states that the Fort Campbell Transportation Office retains operational control of the rail and will continue to coordinate all movements, and that military traffic has priority on the rail system.
“I think this Memorandum of Agreement is a win-win for Fort Campbell and the community, says Fort Campbell Directorate of Public Works, James Duttweiler. “For the community, the agreement provides a framework for helping bring the Megasite to reality. While for Fort Campbell, the agreement helps protect our strategic rail and airfield assets and, with the development of the Megasite, will provide an additional rail deployment option while reducing our costs to maintain our rail.”
