Surfside Estates
- GAINESVILLE, GA -
INLAND PORT UPDATES
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The Inland Port Has Been Named The Blueridge Connector
​
What does the crane sound like?
​​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Permanent Road Closure and Re-routing Map
Coming Soon:
A single train track will enter the port and branch off into six, individual tracks. Segments of train with cargo, stacked 1 to 2 cars high, will sit on those six tracks. A single crane will operate above those 6 tracks to remove cargo from the trains and place it onto transport trucks that carry each individual piece of cargo to the other side of the port to be stacked and stored.
​
A total of 7 cranes will operate at this port. The cranes make a loud, scratchy sound when they are moving, which is for safety purposes. The containers make a clunking sound when set down on the truck, or when set down on the stack.
​
On the side of the port farthest from the property lines of our neighborhood, containers will be stacked six containers high. The 6 cranes on that far side of the port will continuously operate as approximately 160 semi-trucks visit the port daily to pick up cargo. The port will be visited by approximately 52,000 trucks per year.
​
No tree buffer will be planted between the existing train track and the port.
​​​​​
​​
The State Route 365 Planning Study aims to analyze travel conditions along and adjacent to State Route 365 in Hall County from I-985 to Belton Bridge Road.
Click here to read up on the ideas and plans the GDOT has for our area.
Questions regarding plans for our highways and roads may be directed to:
Email: JoPastorelle@dot.ga.gov Office: (404) 631-1792
Jomar A. Pastorelle, M.A., SR 316 & SR 365 Project Manager, Transportation Planner II
​
Article About Environmental Approval to Build Port
​
​
Georgia Ports Authority Chief Communications Officer Tom Boyd at tboyd@gaports.com or call (912) 964-3855
​
Opportunities to Leave Feedback on Social Media Regarding Port Construction
​
Neighborhood Questions:
​
Why was this meeting only held after there was nothing we could do to speak up or fight this? Why was Governor Deal allowed to hide it?
​
Was this location chosen due to the location/convenience of Kubota Tractor?
"After talking with Tim Evans – Senior VP of Economic Development at Greater Hall Chamber, he stated he was the one who was responsible for the filing of the joint application for the Gainesville/Hall County Development Authority.
Tim informed me that the joint permit application was for several sites, in its entirety totaling 282.71 acres. GPA’s 112.983 acers were included in the initial permit application, this was to expedite the process from Hall County perspective allowing for other sites to advance, back in 2018.
The referenced land disturbance was identified as 117 acres in the support document from HHNT this is the GPA site, now referred to as the Blue Ridge Connector.
As for detail with Hall County, there is no correction needed, the filed document is correct for the purpose of which it was used during the joint filing process. I hope my outline helps."
​
Is the goal of the port to attract more industry to the area, further congesting and polluting our lake community?
Hall County will not receive any revenue directly from the Blue Ridge Connector; however, additional businesses and development are expected in the area, as stated as a long-term goal under Economic and Workforce Development in Hall County's Strategic Plan, “to shape Hall County’s northern corridor to encourage natural expansion through investments in infrastructure while promoting safety and efficiency.”
​
If more industry is attracted by the port, will the port expand beyond it's current borders?
​
Will more residential land along Cagle Road be rezoned for businesses? Currently, we know that Habitat for Humanity will be building new housing along Cagle.
​
​Will there be a traffic light where the newly paved Cagle Road meets the highway, so people can safely turn left?
There are no plans for this GDOT intersection to be signalized. However, the GDOT is evaluating an R-CUT at that location to improve intersection safety. Answer provided by Bill Nash, P.E. Director of Public Works and Utilities
​
No one will drive three miles north on Cagle to turn right onto the highway, so why is money being spent to pave it? And how does that help our community access downtown and the hospital?
Cagle Road is used to access 365 by many citizens and the paving the access will improve the access. Based on your communities location, it would be more likely that the renamed Existing White Sulphur (to be renamed to Cagle Road) would be the shortest access to the downtown area. Answer provided by Bill Nash, P.E. Director of Public Works and Utilities
​
Is the dirt portion of Cagle Road being paved to make it more appealing to future investors?
No. Answer provided by Bill Nash, P.E. Director of Public Works and Utilities
​
How many tracks will enter the port?
Six
​
How many trucks, per day, will there be when the port reaches max capacity?
600 a day for max capacity (let's pray that never happens). Currently, there will be 160 trucks per day with only daytime operating hours.
​
How many large, electric cranes will there be?
There will be 7 cranes at the start, but potential for fourteen. The cranes are very noisy.
​
In the event of a fire, will you open access to White Sulphur Road to residents as a means for evacuation?
The answer to this was, "No." And further details were not given because they explained this was Norfolk Southern's decision.
​
How will emergency vehicles reach us in a timely manner once the portion of White Sulphur that leads to the highway is converted into a port entrance and our access is cut off?
​
Will the port be visible from Don Carter State Park?
The blank faces in response to asking this question made it clear that no thought has been given to this.
​
Did the environmental study include the pending smog brought on by the substantial increase in truck traffic (60,000 to 150,000 trucks per year)?
​
How will the port's lighting alter our view of the night sky?
The port will have minimal LED lighting that should be downward.
​
Are any of the other inland ports built so close to a state park?
They confirmed that they have built another port close to a State Park. You may make arrangements to visit the Appalachian Regional Port in Crandall GA to get an idea of what we are facing.
​
How will you protect our water supply from the port runoff when it rains?
There will be a large collection pool that will "process" the water before releasing it. The port will be designed so that runoff gathers in the pool.
​
Will any of the train cars carry hazardous materials that could get into the lake if there is an accident (there is a creek that leads directly to the lake, which is directly below the train track)?
Yes, and they already do.
​
Are they going to build a buffer wall to contain sound or plant a buffer of plants and trees to reduce the noise?
NO. Once grading and construction is completed, there are no plans to plant something between us and the port.
​
So, is the real elephant in the room that Norfolk Southern is closing our access to the highway and putting in two more tracks (for a total of 3) that will block us on a daily basis?
Norfolk Southern got back to me this evening, your contact will be Conner Poe, his email address is Conner.Poe@nscorp.com
​
A recent article states that the operation will be ramped up over a few years to handle a maximum capacity, will that mean the port will eventually be running 7 days a week and 24 hrs. a day?
​
Will a fire station be built on our side of the tracks? NO
​
Will the three train tracks that pass by, along Cagle, produce train whistles?
​
We have been told that the dirt portion of Cagle Rd, to our north, will be paved for access to the highway. If an ambulance comes to pick one of us up, what route will they take to get us to the hospital? Would they first drive away from town by heading 3mi. north on Cagle, then come back towards town 3mi. on Cornelia Hwy? Or would they take the more direct route on side streets and risk being delayed by one of two train crossings?
​
A bridge over the tracks will be built for the neighborhood called, A Quiet Place in the Woods, because they lost a home to fire while the fire trucks were waiting for a stopped train to move off the road. Will we also have a bridge over the tracks? Or do we need to wait for a disaster? There are no plans to build a bridge.
​
What are the hours of operation?
-
Operating hours: We acknowledge the importance of maintaining operational hours that are respectful to the community. To start, we will open with gate hours from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. this will be in alignment with current industry of which we will adjust to support as necessary.
​
​How much smog will the port create as semi-trucks are re-routed to our neighborhood to pick up their cargo?
Apparently, no one can answer this question.
​
Are you aware that we are on well water and how will you ensure that we are protected in the event of a derailment?
Are you aware that Lake Lanier is the water supply for Atlanta and beyond?
​
How long will the trains entering the port be?
3,000 feet
​
Are you aware that the single train we have now can be heard by campers at Don Carter State Park?
​
Will it operate on weekends? Not when it first opens.
​
What sounds will the port produce? Please scroll up and play the video posted above to hear the loud sounds these cranes make. We visited in person and they are loud. The port's trucks beep when backing up. And you can hear the containers clank when they are set down.
"The audible alarms we have on these cranes are a lower Db"
"Trucks will travel in one direction through the port without backing up.
-
Use of “Whisper Alarms” on cargo handling equipment: Regarding potential noise disturbances, we want to assure you that we are committed to minimizing any impact on nearby residents.
-
Truck horns on the property: We invite you to visit our Garden City Terminal in Savannah (34 cranes). What’s different about this container terminal compared to most container terminals in the U.S. - is the lack of truck horns in a facility that handles 13,000 trucks a day. The best practices we use are high productivity operations and truck gates that get truckers in and out of the facility safely and quickly to make the trucker experience smooth and dependable. We envision trucks entering and exiting the Blue Ridge Connector facility will spend an average of only 15 minutes on terminal before returning to the highway. "
​
Does the delivery of 60,000 to 150,000 containers per year mean 60,000 to 150,000 semi trucks will now travel to our neighborhood annually?
The only answer given was that 150 Kubota trucks (per day) would just travel a few hundred feet to get their cargo containers. The rest of this question is unanswered.
​
Several Billion in Federal Funding was given to the Savannah Port to clean up emissions. Where can we read about the emissions that port generates and what the main causes are? 160 semi-trucks will pick up cargo daily to start. Additionally, there are semi-trucks within the port that will circle the property to move cargo within the port while producing emissions.
​
Is there an updated map of the layout of this facility?
Yes.
​
How often will tracks be inspected for safety and derailment?
​
Do any other inland ports share a property line with people's homes? No
​
What will happen to the property value of the homes adjacent to the railroad tracks in our neighborhood? No one will buy a home that overlooks three tracks and an inland port.
​
Will longer and heavier trains result in derailment?
​
Is there a GDOT/traffic study that includes the soon-to-be-built Buffington Farm Development of 300 homes that will share Cagle Rd with us as we try to commute to town or to work? No
​
How will you manage silt runoff during construction of the port?
​
Are there any county restrictions regarding the noise level this port will produce?
​
​Will the port have fire hydrants? No
​
Will the port have a cell phone tower? No
​
Will the port have solar panels or a living roof? Or lighter colored asphalt? If not, what is environmentally friendly about this port?
No
​
Did the environmental study include Bald Eagles, box turtles and other wildlife and vegetation?
​
How will school busses function safely along Cagle once traffic is bottlenecked?
​
Are there noise ordinances for the town of Gainesville?
​
What is the opinion of the Army Corps of Engineers?
​
Do you really feel that paving Cagle Road, so we can drive three miles north, in order to travel three miles south, is giving us any comfort?
​
What other locations were considered? For instance, why are we building a school in the middle of businesses and the port in a neighborhood?
​
It appears that homes in our neighborhood have already stopped selling. Any comments?
​
Is there a completion date?
2026
​
"Addressing our feedback" is a term that is being used to attempt to show that Gainesville cares about our concerns. But all they can do for us at this point is hear our concerns and then tell us how it's going to be (basically confirming our worst fears). Any thoughts on that?
Who do I contact with questions?
GPA is an authority of the State of Georgia, governed by a 13 member board appointed by the Governor from the state at large.
-
Community meetings: We want to emphasize that we actively engage with our neighboring communities, such as those near our Garden City Terminal, to ensure that their concerns and feedback are heard and addressed. If residents in the vicinity have any questions or comments regarding our operations, we are more than happy to provide answers and assistance. Open communication and collaboration with our neighbors are integral to our commitment to being responsible members of the community. I personally like this part of my job, going out to meet community leaders, listening to their concerns, answering their questions, and fixing things that need to be addressed for the community’s confidence.
__________________________________________________________________________________
​
The railroad crossing at White Sulphur and Cagle Rd will soon be permanently closed; significantly altering commutes, emergency access and travel to town and school. 4.8 million dollars has been accepted from the GPA for improvements to Cagle Rd, as well as some of the other roads in our area, in order to provide us with paved access to the highway where Cagle connects. But there are no plans for a traffic light. Of major concern is making sure we maintain access at Ramsey.
​
White Sulphur Road, as it runs through our neighborhoods, will be renamed Cagle Road.
Access to our neighborhood for emergency vehicles is of great concern. Instead of one railroad track, along Cagle, there will be a total of three (at the same grade). Wait times for trains to pass at crossings will be longer and less predictable. Seven railroad tracks will enter the port.
​
Containers at the Inland port will be stacked 6 containers high. There will be fourteen 75ft tall, large electric cranes that will likely be visible from Don Carter State Park. The port will have the capacity to take in 150,000 containers per year, but will start out at 60,000. The port will be constructed at the same grade as the existing train track, which is above the Surfside Estates neighborhood and ontop of the Continental Divide.
​
THE HIGHWAY AND WHITE SULPHUR WILL CHANGE
The YMCA stoplight will be eliminated and on and off ramps will be created. White Sulphur road will be widened to four lanes to accommodate new truck traffic. Highway improvements are also likely (more lanes?). Trucks will exit the facility at Kubota Way. We have learned that the "improvements" to Cagle road will bring the road within 7 feet of one neighbor's house!
​
To reach Norfolk Southern regarding the closure of White Sulphur or to try to find information about how many tracks they will put in: Public Projects
We can try reaching out to Jake Watson at 470-463-6778 or emailing him at jacob.watson@nscorp.com
Possibly try Ryan Heffern-Senior Industrial Dev Manager 404-877-2600 or ryan.heffern@nscorp.com
Article about Norfolk Southern's contract with the Georgia Ports Authority
​
NEW DEVEILOPMENT AND MORE VEHICLES WILL SOON SHARE CAGLE: https://arabellacapital.com/update-haselton/
More than 300 homes, with 72 boat slips, are being built off of Buffington Farm Rd, and will soon share the roads on this side of the tracks. They have rezoned 3271 and 3270 Buffington Farm Road, a 108.13 acre lot, from its current zoning as Agricultural-Residential-lll / Vacation-Cottage (V-C) to Planned Residential Development (PRD).
Developer: https://arabellacapital.com/about-us/adam-whitmire-ccim/
https://arabellacapital.com/properties/haselton/
​
Habitat for Humanity is building a development along Cagle. New apartments are popping up everywhere and the new school will cause congestion where we are re-routed to Ramsey.
​
A RIBON CUTTING IS ALREADY PLANNED
Interview with Commissioner, Gregg Poole: https://accesswdun.com/article/2023/7/1193552/the-place-was-immaculate-hall-county-commissioner-gregg-poole-on-upcoming-inland-port
​
WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR WELL WATER?
It is possible that The City of Gainesville will run water along Cagle Rd to our water tanks, should we agree to use their water. That could provide us with fire hydrants along Cagle, but we would no longer have our clean well water. Lots of thought needs to be put into this. One neighborhood groundwater expert says that the water runs deep enough to not be affected by port construction. Some community members are worried about drought and some are worried about potential contamination of a train derails. One benefit would be the possible addition of fire hydrants along Cagle, which would allow trucks to refill close by and potentially allow firefighters to keep a fire from spreading from one side of Cagle to the other. Nothing has been decided.
https://echo.epa.gov/detailed-facility-report?fid=GA1390001&sys=SDWIS
https://www.tapsafe.org/is-gainesville-ga-tap-water-safe-to-drink/
​
Jennifer Rivera is fielding questions for the Commissioners: 770-297-2684 . Here is the main page with further contact information: https://www.hallcounty.org/409/Board-of-Commissioners
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
he Hall County Board of Commissioners meets monthly at the Hall County Government Center. Meeting agendas can be found online.
​
https://gaports.com/facilities/inland-ports/northeast-georgia-inland-port/
The planned 104-acre Northeast Georgia Inland Port will provide a direct link to the Port of Savannah via Norfolk Southern. The rail terminal will open with 9,000 feet of working track, expanding to 18,000 feet at full build-out. With a top capacity of 150,000 container lifts per year, the facility will offset 600 roundtrip highway miles for every container moved by rail.
​
​
Meetings Are Recorded Here. This meeting approves 4.8 million dollars for road improvements pertaining to the construction of the port (roughly 17 minutes in):
​
The Hall County web site can be used to search for meeting agendas. Future Meetings can be found here: https://www.hallcounty.org/1099/Board-of-Commissioners-Agenda-Center
​
​
EPA Nation-Wide Air Pollution Monitoring Projects
​
Washington Post Article Regarding The Use of Plants As Sound Barrier
"Mixed broadleaf plantings at least 25 feet thick and conifers 50 to 100 feet thick can drop noise levels by up to 10 decibels. For year-round noise reduction, plant a mix of evergreens such as arborvitaes, spruces, pines and hollies. To be effective sound barriers, these trees must have foliage that reaches to the ground." Washington Post
​
EPA To Spend Billions To Reduce Emissions/Pollution at the Port of Savannah
​
Federal Funding Port Electrification
​
​
Information About Cagle Road's Zoning
​
Tractor Trailer Storage Area Approved at the Corner of White Sulphur and Cornelia Highway
​
https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/how-create-quiet-zone
​
https://residential-acoustics.com/reducing-train-noise/
​
https://railroads.dot.gov/environment/noise-vibration/horn-noise-faq
​
Mother Earth News Post: https://share.libbyapp.com/title/9848356
"Train Derailment Disasters Don’t Show Signs of Slowing Down • On Feb. 3, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the train, owned by Norfolk Southern, had 38 train cars that derailed, 11 of which were carrying materials classified as carcinogens or contaminants. The NTSB investigation into the cause of the derailment is still ongoing, but evidence suggests it was at least partially due to overheat failure on a wheel bearing."
​
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/14/us/montana-kids-win-climate-trial/index.html
​
