A statewide industry consortium billing itself as a "proactive think tank" wants to help land large truck-rail intermodal yards for Indiana, with the Kingsbury Industrial Park in LaPorte County still in the running.

Conexus Indiana, formed just two years ago, has released its "Plan for Indiana's Logistics Future," which includes developing intermodal rail yards as one of its top priorities. According to the report, locations ready for such development include LaPorte County, one already hosting a small truck-rail facility in Avon, and others at Ft. Wayne and Evansville.

"We believe if Indiana could land two or three of those facilities at any of those locations, it would greatly strengthen our whole transportation system," said David Holt, Conexus vice president of operations and business development.

Conexus was involved in doing research and talking with railroads during negotiations for a cold-storage facility served by railroad CSX Corp. at the Kingsbury Industrial Park, Holt said. A memorandum of understanding for the $50 million project was signed late last year by LaPorte County, CSX, the developer and the state.

So-called intermodal facilities, which facilitate the transfer of freight between semitrailer trucks and railroads, are just one of the transportation projects Conexus wants to facilitate under its plan, Holt said.

Also included in the recently released plan are reconstruction of key locks for waterborne freight, attracting air cargo to Indiana airports such as Gary/Chicago International, and completing key road projects such as the proposed Illiana Expressway.

In addition to those transportation goals, other key objectives for Conexus involve shaping public policy and developing a trained workforce for the freight industry.

Conexus Indiana has a board of directors made up of 36 executives from leading transportation companies such as Schneider Corp. and FedEx Corp. It is chaired by Brightpoint Americas Inc. President J. Mark Howell.

In a visit to The Times media center on Thursday, Holt said Conexus is unique in that it is both industry-driven and statewide.

The Conexus plan identifies both the proposed Illiana Expressway and keeping U.S. 30 between Valparaiso and Ft. Wayne a limited-access highway as key projects with statewide implications. The Illiana Expressway would connect Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 57, in Illinois.

Indiana is already a top player in many transportation categories -- but is held back in large part by its proximity to Chicago, the busiest rail hub and a leading air freight hub, Holt said.

On the public policy front, Conexus is considering recommendations that would include a rail investment tax credit to encourage railroads to invest here, Holt said.

LaPorte County was in competition for a key CSX intermodal rail facility two years ago but lost out to North Baltimore, Ohio, in that bid. CSX broke ground on the $235 million North Baltimore intermodal facility last summer, which the railroad estimates will create 2,600 direct and indirect jobs over the next 10 years.

"What we are trying to say is lets not let that happen in the future," Holt said.

Crossroads of America

Here are some Indiana transportation assets that show why Conexus Indiana thinks the Hoosier state can become a truck, rail, water and air cargo magnet:

* 14 interstates are the most of any state in nation

* Ninth in nation in total rail miles

* 15th in nation in waterborne shipping volume

* Two of top 125 cargo airports in nation: Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne