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SPECIAL TO THE T&D An aerial view of the U.S. 301/Interstate 95 interchange. Charleston-based Carolina Linkages proposes to upgrade the interchange to a clover leaf to assist in traffic flow. The existing U.S. Highway 301/Interstate 95 interchange was built along what development officials call a "Texas diamond" design. Traffic can back up on the interstate under the current design.

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CaroLinks responds to residents'
questions about Santee project

By GENE ZALESKI
T&D Staff Writer
Friday, December 08, 2006

SANTEE -- Since Charleston-based Carolina Linkages announced plans to bring an integrated intermodal transportation and distribution network -- or what has commonly been called an inland port -- to the Santee area, there has been no lack of controversy surrounding the proposal.

Many residents and business leaders have been outspoken on their disapproval of the project and have frequently demanded answers to their questions, alleging the company and Santee town officials have not been forthcoming.

CaroLinks' proposal has struck such a nerve with residents that a group identified as the "Friends of the Santee Cooper Lakes" has created a Web site -- www.santeeinlandport.com -- to provide citizens of the lakes communities with information on the proposal.

A link on the Web site tagged "more questions" presents a list of about 23 specific questions compiled from concerned residents, ranging from "How will the barge traffic affect fishing on lakes Marion and Moultrie?" to "Who will be CaroLinks' customers?"

Company and Orangeburg County economic development leaders have often stressed the project will be compatible with Santee's "Oasis of Recreation" environment and will not harm the quality of life and wildlife.

CaroLinks President and CEO Lucy Duncan-Scheman and company officials took time to address the questions posted on the www.santeeinlandport.com Web site in their own words.

Q: Is this project in harmony with the tourism and recreational goals of the Santee lakes?

A: Native South Carolinians who know their history know that the original purpose of all navigable waterways in this region was to facilitate commerce between the Midlands of our great state and the Lowcountry, creating opportunity for Midlands businesses to connect easily to the global economy by way of the Port of Charleston.

Generals Moultrie, Marion and Sumter created the first navigable waterway, the Santee Canal, for this purpose in pre-revolutionary war times.

This was followed by T.C. Williams' vision of hydroelectric power and steamboat shipping in the pre-depression era and then by President Roosevelt as a New Deal public works project.

CaroLinks is proud to ensure that the legacy of the lakes continues as we support the economic development of this economically distressed region.

We do not believe that the goals of a vital economy and tourism and recreation are mutually exclusive. We believe strongly that our operations will coexist with current uses of lakes Marion and Moultrie so that this, our home, will be well rounded from both a recreation and economic perspective.

Q: Has an environmental impact study been completed for the effects of barge traffic on local waterways?

A: CaroLinks will be undertaking exhaustive environmental impact studies, not only for our waterborne freight operations but also for our on-site rail, manufacturing and distribution facilities.

CaroLinks embraces the opportunity to be a good neighbor and a good steward of the land and water in our new home in the Santee area. We are confident that the Santee community will find our company committed to creating a business here that is not only commercially good for our shareholders, but honors our commitment to be strong corporate citizens and good neighbors.

Q: How will the barge port and trucking distribution center affect property values?

A: Property values are, at their core, a function of supply and demand.

By bringing new employment to this area, our project will increase the demand for housing at all ends of the price spectrum. As we successfully recruit logistics, distribution and manufacturing businesses to the area, their employees and executives will need housing. We strongly believe that this will only positively impact housing values.

It should be noted that the barge operation will occur on the lake to the south of the central residential and recreational area of Santee, creating minimal impact to residents of that area, and also that our facility will be heavily buffered from existing residential areas.

Q: CaroLinks' proposal includes the Santee site and an upstate site. If containers cannot be transported via rail from Charleston to the Santee site, how would containers be transported to the upstate?

A: Freight will be either used by companies on our site or transported from our site by rail and truck. The advantage of our site is that the transportation infrastructure is so strong. Our close proximity to the Ports of Charleston and Savannah, as well as the air cargo hub in Columbia are reasons that we believe this location will be successful.

Q: How will barge traffic affect fishing on lakes Marion and Moultrie?

A: Barge traffic will not affect fishing any differently than will non-fishing recreational boating, except that our traffic will be predictable and piloted by licensed professional captains. We also anticipate making our sailing schedules public information and viewable through a company web site.

Q: How long will it take a barge to travel from Charleston to Vance?

A: Approximately 24 hours, depending on weather conditions.

Q: How many barges are predicted to travel daily?

A: We are continually evaluating this question as volume will be driven by our customers and market demand. For planning purposes, we are anticipating two round trips per day.

Q: How many barges can the Pinopolis lock accommodate at one time?

A: One

Q: How will the issue of traffic congestion be addressed?

A: We are aggressively pursuing the development of the I-95/U.S. 301 interchange, which will facilitate the vast majority of our over-the-road traffic to and from the site.

We also anticipate that, once the U.S. 301 interchange is complete, some of the through traffic will bypass the Santee business district as it will connect to Route 6 in two places, thereby reducing congestion in Santee.

Q: How many current jobs depend on tourism and recreational activities?

A: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, employment in the Recreation, Accommodations and Food Service industries accounts for just over 3,000 jobs throughout Orangeburg County.

We anticipate that more of these jobs will be generated to serve the needs of the new industries and individuals who will locate in the area because of our project.

Further, while some additional hospitality sector jobs will be created, even more, higher paying jobs in management, skilled labor and distribution and logistics businesses will be created, bringing new economic vitality and depth to what is currently an unbalanced economy.

Q: How many new jobs will actually be created as opposed to being imported from other areas?

A: While there's no guarantee that jobs will materialize, just as there's no guarantee that we'll catch the big fish on the lake, we expect our project to generate significant numbers of jobs.

Surrounding communities that do business with companies on the park will cause this number to continually increase; in fact, similar projects in other parts of the country have seen between 4,000 and 12,000 jobs created as a result of parks our size.

We are confident that we will be able to attract investment in and jobs to this project, not only because of the inherent value of the project but also because of the wonderful character of the Santee area and the warm hospitality of its people.

Q: What assurances are there that the promised jobs will materialize?

A: Because near-dock real estate in both Charleston and Savannah has become so expensive, and with vacancy rates below 5 percent in Charleston, we are confident that our project will be able to serve the needs of manufacturers and distribution companies who need access to those facilities.

Again, there are no guarantees, but we are confident that this project will bring investment and jobs to the Santee area.

Q: What is the skill level required for these promised jobs?

A: Again, there are no promises, only expectations.

We anticipate a broad range of opportunity for employment within the project from executive management to skilled labor to entry-level positions in manufacturing, assembly, distribution and logistics businesses.

It should be noted that local educational institutions are currently making significant investment in training people for the distribution economy. We expect that the result will be reduced unemployment and a skilled workforce that will help us to attract companies to the region.

Q: What is the wage level of these promised jobs?

A: The range will vary depending on the role, from entry level employees to highly compensated executives.

Q: How much revenue does the local tourism industry generate annually?

A: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the arts, entertainment and recreation industries in Orangeburg County as a whole generate approximately $10 million in revenue annually. Our project will far exceed that figure in annual revenue and we believe will also increase spending in that industry sector.

Q: What is the total amount of public tax dollars to be committed to this project?

A: CaroLinks has sought no public tax dollars to implement our plan; the county and state began working on funding the 301 interchange before CaroLinks decided to go forward with its purchase of land in the area.

Q: How much in tax revenue will this project generate?

A: While our project will certainly generate tax revenues on this property significantly in excess of what are currently generated by that parcel of land, the actual number is not known and will not be known for some time.

Q: Where will CaroLinks get the $250 million to pay for this project?

A: CaroLinks' project costs include land acquisition, master planning, construction and engineering planning, site improvements before construction of highly customized facilities. Funding is provided via equity and debt, from individual and institutional sources. Budgets are currently under development, and are subject to change.

Q: Who will CaroLinks' customers be?

A: Economic development and the recruitment of new investment in local economies to bring jobs and tax revenue is a highly competitive business. Disclosure of our specific prospective customers would put us at a severe competitive disadvantage. We do anticipate that many of our customers will be Fortune 500 companies in the manufacturing, assembly, distribution and logistics industries.

Q: What is the S.C. Port Authority’s position on the CaroLinks plan?

A: The port has no particular position on CaroLinks, other than it recognizes any increases in industrial warehousing/distribution facilities which support its customers as beneficial to everyone in S.C.

Q: Why has Rep. Clyburn changed his position on the best location for the inland distribution center?

A: The I-26 location did not have access to water, sewer or electrical utilities.

Congressman Clyburn's visionary position recognizes our site, with its strong transportation infrastructure, as ideal for creating investment and opportunity in Orangeburg County, his home.

Congressman Clyburn has asked the community to learn about our project and understand the value we bring to be a catalyst for economic prosperity in the region.

Q: How will CaroLinks keep its price competitive?

A: There are two components to our business, real estate and logistics. We anticipate being competitive in both of these arenas, not only on the basis of price, which is but one component of any corporate buying decision, but on value and service as well.

Q: Has the rail transport aspect been completely eliminated?

A: Rail is an integral part of our intermodal value-added solution, as is our connectivity to air cargo service at the airport in Columbia, the new 301 interchange for vehicular traffic, and our study of the use of barging. As CSX rail line already crosses the property, our customers will be able to work with CSX to utilize their existing track.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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