December 22, 2020 By Frank McCormack The board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) voted December 17 on several measures authorizing Brandy Christian, president and CEO of the port, to begin entering into purchase and lease agreements aimed at potentially developing a $1.5 billion multimodal container terminal in Violet, La., in lower St. Bernard Parish. First envisioned in the port’s 2018 Port NOLA Forward strategic master plan, the proposed facility would be located downriver from the Crescent City Connection bridge, thus allowing the largest container vessels traversing the Gulf of Mexico to call on the new terminal. With approval from the board of commissioners, the port will embark on a two-year due diligence and permitting period, which will include extensive community outreach.