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Infrastructure

Utilities

North Charleston is served by a few major companies in meeting utility needs:

Transportation

  • Airlines – centrally located near the intersection of Interstates 26 and 526 in North Charleston, Charleston International Airport provides commercial and military air service for the region. The airport currently serves more than 2.6 million passengers annually.
  • Motor Freight – the Trident area is served by approximately 100 motor carriers servicing routes throughout the U.S.
  • Port Facilities – the S.C. State Ports Authority has six intermodal facilities, two of which are located in North Charleston. Each facility handles container, bulk and break bulk cargo. With more than two million square feet of warehouse and storage space, the port terminals can accommodate more than 17 vessels at a time.
  • Interstates/State Highways – Interstate highways include I-26 (east/west), I-95 (north/south) and I-526 (east/west). The area is also served by four major U.S. highways and seven primary state highways.
  • Railroads – Amtrak, Norfolk-Southern, the CSX System and Palmetto Railways serve the region.
  • CARTA – The Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority (CARTA) is the public transit provider in Charleston. CARTA bus transportation has been the region’s only mass transit.

Port of Charleston

  • S.C. State Ports Authority’s operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across the state and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year
  • In the Charleston MSA alone, the jobs impact totals 50,700
  • Deepest water in the Southeastern U.S
  • Only port in the Southeast that can efficiently handle post-Panamax vessels up to 9,600 TEUs
  • Serves more than 150 countries worldwide, 40 steamship lines, including all top 20 carriers
  • Competitive, multi-carrier access to every major trade lane
  • Handles more than 1.5 million TEUs annually
  • New three-berth, 280-acre container terminal under construction
  • 20 million+ square feet of prime industrial space in development near I-95 (30 miles from port)

Union Pier Terminal

  • Dedicated breakbulk and Ro/Ro cargo terminal
  • 4 berths
  • Easy access to I-26
  • Multiple rail lines serving warehouses and dockside open storage areas
  • Less than one hour transit time to open ocean
  • Class 1 rail access by both CSX and Norfolk-Southern

Columbus Street Terminal

  • Combination roll-on, roll-off and breakbulk terminal
  • 6 berths
  • Easy access to I-26
  • On-terminal rail yard
  • One hour transit time to open ocean
  • Class 1 rail access by both CSX and Norfolk-Southern

North Charleston Terminal

  • Container terminal
  • 2,460 feet of continuous berth
  • Easy access to I-26 and I-526
  • On-terminal rail yard
  • Two hours transit time to open ocean
  • Class 1 rail access by both CSX and Norfolk-Southern

Wando Welch Terminal

  • Container terminal
  • 3,800 feet of continuous berth
  • Less than 1 mile to I-526; easy access to I-26
  • 16.4 nautical miles from sea buoy
  • 1.5 hours transit time to open ocean

Veterans Terminal

  • Fully secured dedicated bulk, break-bulk and project cargo facility
  • Four piers
  • Easy access to I-26
  • 1.5 hours steaming time from the sea buoy
  • Rail service by both Norfolk-Southern & CSX
  • Class 1 rail access by both CSX and Norfolk-Southern

South Carolina Inland Port

  • Container facility in Greer, S.C., connected to the Port of Charleston by an overnight rail route
  • Initial capacity of 40,000 moves annually with expansion opportunities of up to 100,000 moves annually
  • Extends ports reach 212 miles inland and provides access to 94 million consumers within a one-day drive

Charleston International Airport

  • Quick access to I-26 & I-526
  • Six airlines: American Eagle, Continental, Delta, Southwest, United, US Airways, JetBlue
  • 100+ daily flights (view flight schedule)
  • Non-stop service to/from nearly 20 major airports
  • Growing air cargo service
  • Runway lengths: 9,001 feet (2,744 meters) & 7,004 feet (2,135 meters)
  • Plans underway to extend both runways
  • Phone (843) 767-1100

Executive Airports

Atlantic Aviation and Landmark Aviation

  • Located in North Charleston
  • Runway length: 9,001 feet (2,743 meters)
  • Atlantic Aviation: (843) 746-7600
  • Landmark Aviation: (843) 414-9200

Primary Railways

  • CSX and Norfolk Southern both operate large, well-equipped rail yards
  • Dedicated intermodal trains for service to key markets
  • Daily express services inbound/outbound
  • Double stack, COFC and TOFC services
  • Exceptionally high and wide rail clearances for out-of-gauge cargo

CSX Transportation

  • 2700 Bennett Yard Road
  • Charleston, SC 29405
  • (843) 745-5399

Norfolk Southern

  • Intermodal operations at 4350 Goer Drive
  • North Charleston, SC
  • (843)566-8043
  • Chief Yard Clerk at 2200 Rich Street
  • North Charleston, SC
  • (843) 566-8042

Palmetto Railways

  • 540 East Bay Street
  • Charleston, SC 29403-6337
  • (843) 727-2067

Amtrak (National Rail Passenger Service)

  • 4565 Gaynor Avenue
  • North Charleston, SC 29405
  • (843) 744-8263 for station information
  • (800) 872-7245 for reservations/schedule information

Highway System

  • 3 Interstate highways (I-26, I-95, I-526)
  • 3 major U.S. highways, 7 major state highways
  • I-95, I-77, I-20, I-85 and I-40 all link directly to I-26
  • 150+ trucking firms serve the market
  • Land-based shipments can reach most domestic markets within 48 hours