The Freight, Rails, Ports & Waterway Division is a unique branch of the department and is one of only a
handful of state departments of transportation which operate a true multimodal program in the country.
This branch was created by joining two separate divisions—the Rails and the Ports Waterways section,
combined with the creation of a new Freight section to act as one new division. Its mission is to create
a comprehensive and coordinated state multimodal program to facilitate freight between and among local,
national, and international markets. The division was formed to address the growing demand for freight
transportation, the capacity of the states rail, and water transportation systems.
Studies show the U.S. population reached 300 million in October 2006 and estimated to reach 380 million
by 2035. By the year 2025, U.S. domestic freight tonnage is anticipated to double, while international
freight tonnage will nearly triple. This will place unprecedented demands on the state of Mississippi—our
highways, railroads, airports, and ports & waterways. Mississippi is currently planning to accommodate
this growth by enhancing our competitiveness in our local and global market, thus generating economic
benefits to the community and state.
In the past, state departments of transportation have treated their modes as separate identities—stove pipes
if you will. MDOT has addressed this age old thinking, while understanding the importance of a multimodal
freight program.
The Freight, Rail, Ports and Waterways Division, will coordinate and act as one component, the following are
the areas of its responsibility:
Freight
The freight and goods movement planning portion of the division is responsible for the process of
identifying, evaluating, and selecting needed projects and actions that will improve the movement
goods and connectivity of other modes. Mississippi DOT has worked continuously over the last several
years to develop and maintain a freight and goods movement program.
Rail
The rail portion focuses on the development and safety of the state’s rail transportation system for
future freight and passenger service, through a comprehensive program of capital improvement and strategic
planning. The rail portion strives to preserve and enhance the state’s rail system, and provides the states
agricultural and industrial shippers a needed transportation choice that is vital for continued economic
development.
Rail Inspectors
The Rails portion also includes a five regional Rail Inspectors, who have the responsibility for the overall
safety, inspection, and good repair of the railroad tracks located throughout the state. They are usually the
first responders in hazardous material spills, derailments, and collisions. Inspections are completed annually
at railroad crossings to comply with State and Federal safety regulations. Inspectors also investigate
complaints concerning the railroads and insure that corrective actions were successfully completed relating to
issues of concern from the general public.
Statewide Rail Needs Assessment
In March of 2007, Mississippi DOT completed an intensive rails needs assessment, to evaluating Class I and
Class III rail lines throughout the entire state. The final report documents the present and economic analysis
for each of the Class I and Class III railroads, and suggests an investment strategy for each of the railroads.
Statewide, there are currently five Class I railroads and twenty-six Class III shortline railroad.
Ports & Waterways
The division’s responsibility in the area of ports and waterways includes planning, promotion, serving as an advocate of ports, collecting data, and providing technical assistance. The department also provides direction and assistance to the Corps of Engineers maintenance of the federal projects and the entire
Mississippi Intracoastal waterway.
Currently, there are 16 public ports in Mississippi: the state controls 2 of the 16 ports and the remaining 14 ports are
locally owned and operated. Mississippi’s ports contribute $1.4 billion to the State economy, representing almost 3 percent
of the Gross State Product and including some 34,000 direct and indirect jobs paying $765 million in wages and salaries.
On the Ports & Waterways website you will be able to find the
locations of these ports, satellite images, and more detailed information of their facilities.
Waterborne commerce has historically called at ports along the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. Completion of the
Tennessee-Tombigbee (Tenn-Tom) Waterway in the northeastern portion of the State created a direct, navigable waterway for
additional barge traffic serving this inland region. The inland ports primarily handle general and bulk cargo, while the Gulf
Coast ports handle containers and refrigerated products in addition to general and bulk cargo.
Northern Region:
The Tenn-Tom Waterway extends from the Tombigbee River to the Tennessee River. The six ports located on the Tenn-Tom in the
northeastern portion of the State of Mississippi from north to south, are as follows: Yellow Creek Port, Port Itawamba, Port of
Amory, Port of Aberdeen, Port of Clay County and Lowndes County Port.
Western & Eastern Region:
The six Mississippi River ports located on the western side of the State of Mississippi from north to south are as follows: Port
of Rosedale, Port of Greenville, Yazoo County Port, Port of Vicksburg, Port of Claiborne County and Port of Natchez. The Yazoo County
Port is located on the Yazoo River, a tributary of the Mississippi River.
Southern Region:
The four Gulf Coast ports, located in the southern most region of the State of Mississippi along the Gulf of Mexico, from east to west
include: Port of Pascagoula, Port of Biloxi, Port of Gulfport and Port Bienville.
Combined, the Freight, Rails, Ports an Waterways division will act as a mechanism, to better connect, develop, and assure a manner that will maximize use of existing facilities and optimum integration and coordination of the various modes of transportation, including the
combined utilization of both government owned and privately owned resources.
The MDOT Visionary
Robby Burt, Freight, Rails, Ports & Waterways Division Director
Administration Building, 8th Floor
Phone: 601-359-7910
Fax: 601-359-7855