Sumner Newscow report — Finalists for shipping hub announced seven finalists have been selected for the site of a proposed Kansas transload shipping center. Wellington was not included on the list.

The Kansas Department of Transportation/Kansas Turnpike Authority Transload Facility Site analysis team selected the finalists from the 111 proposals submitted for consideration. Some communities submitted multiple sites. The finalists include Abilene, Concordia, El Dorado (Refinery Road site), Garden City (U.S. 50 Industrial Park), Great Bend, Great Plains Industrial Park just south of Parsons, and Norton.

Transloading is the process of moving goods from one mode of transportation to another, or in this case, from truck to rail and rail to truck. By blending the benefits of shipping by rail and local/short haul trucking, a transload facility can provide more flexible and cost-effective solutions for customers who may not have local access to freight rail service or those who need expanded warehousing.

Wellington City Manager Roy Eckert said in June that Wellington had submitted an application and was hopeful the Sumner County seat would be selected (see story here). 

“I’m pleased that so many communities in every region of the state submitted proposals. A transload facility has the potential to not only lower shipping costs, it is a job creator and provides economic development opportunities for the export of Kansas products,” said Mike King, Secretary of Transportation and Director of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

The selection committee will hear presentations from the finalists later this month and a final selection is expected in late August.

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