Class I Briefs: CSX, BNSF

Photo Courtesy of BNSF, via X (formerly Twitter)

CSX makes a $10 million donation toward the Museum of Science & History’s (MOSH) move to the Northbank in Downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Also, BNSF’s Needles Third Mainline, Segments 1 and 2 project is recognized with the American Council of Engineering Companies' (ACEC) Engineering Honor Award for California.

CSX

CSX on March 26 announced that it has contributed $10 million to the MOSH in support of the museum’s Genesis capital campaign, “solidifying CSX as a leading private funding partner.” With this gift, CSX says it will be recognized as the presenting sponsor of the new MOSH.

The MOSH Genesis capital campaign supports plans for the MOSH to relocate to a new building on the Northbank of the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville, Fla. In May 2023, legislation for a disposition and development agreement for 2.5 acres of City-owned land at the Shipyards property commonly known as Lot X was signed into law. The legislation grants the MOSH a 40-year ground lease of the land for $1 per year; design of the park and the Riverwalk; and other agreements related to the creation of a new museum and surrounding park spaces.

“We are immensely grateful to CSX for their transformational gift to the MOSH Genesis,” said Jill Davis, Chair of the Genesis capital campaign cabinet and Vice Chair of the MOSH board of trustees. “This generous contribution will have a lasting impact on our institution, enabling us to create a museum that offers engaging exhibits, dynamic educational programs, and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages on the Northbank of the St. Johns River.”

“Investing in the transformation of our Downtown through the MOSH Genesis vision aligns with our company’s commitment to our city’s cultural and educational vibrancy,” said CSX President and CEO John Hinrichs. “We are proud to lend our name to an institution that promises to inspire the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These fields directly support our business operations while reinforcing Northeast Florida’s status as a logistics leader. Our support for the MOSH Genesis capital campaign is an extension of our commitment to this region and its future growth.”

According to the Class I, CSX has been a staple in Northeast Florida’s economic and philanthropic sectors since moving its headquarters to Jacksonville in 2003. The Fortune 500 company supports multiple organizations throughout the city that reflect CSX’s commitment and pride in serving the community through partnerships that promote education, drive ingenuity and contribute to cultural enrichment. Supporting the economic growth and educational advancement of Jacksonville through the MOSH capital campaign is a natural extension of this commitment, CSX stated in a release.

“CSX’s use of scientific and innovative principles have made history within the transportation industry. Today, their remarkable contribution makes a different kind of history as the largest single donation to date to the MOSH Genesis capital campaign. We look forward to joining CSX on the Northbank in the years ahead,” said MOSH CEO Dr. Alistair Dove.

MOSH has operated in its current location on the Southbank of Downtown Jacksonville since 1969. The Museum’s operations have since outgrown the 33,000 square feet of usable exhibit space; building a new museum will significantly expand the organization’s capacity to serve more students and visitors year-round. Plans for the new MOSH comprise approximately 130,000 square feet across three floors.

“The City is grateful to CSX for its extremely generous gift to MOSH Genesis, which will go a long way towards helping the institution relocate to the Northbank,” said City of Jacksonville Mayor, Donna Deegan. “We look forward to seeing not only MOSH’s new, state-of-the-art facility, but also the tremendous impact it will have on Downtown.”

BNSF

BNSF recently announced via an X (formerly Twitter) post that its Needles Third Mainline, Segments 1 and 2 project has been recognized by ACEC with the Engineering Honor Award in California.

Linking the Port of Los Angeles to major freight hubs in the east, BNSF’s Needles Subdivision through inland California is one of the nation’s busiest corridors—but BNSF said it understood that its 1.5% uphill track grade had become an operational bottleneck. “We needed a solution, so we began the Needles Third Mainline Track Expansion Project, which adds a third track to the subdivision along nearly 30 miles of our Southern Transcon to increase traffic fluidity,” BNSF stated in the post.

The award, BNSF says, celebrates engineering excellence by honoring projects “demonstrating creative problem-solving and engineering’s ability to improve our world.”

“We’re honored that ACEC believes BNSF’s Needles project exemplifies this,” the Class I wrote.