Projects on the list range from construction or rehabilitation of rail infrastructure and bridges, as well as interstates and roads, to improvements to port and airport facilities (download below). As of May 2025, more than $560 million in projects were completed and $2.6 billion in funding had been allocated for others, according to the Freightway, an economic development enterprise of Bi-State Development that is said to “enhance and optimize the region’s freight network and strengthen modal flexibility, support workforce development initiatives … , and raise awareness about the global connectivity the St. Louis region offers that makes it a great location to establish or grow a business.”
The projects on the list are identified by the Freightway’s Freight Development Committee, which includes representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Transportation, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, as well as all modes of transportation, the manufacturing and logistics industries, and academia.
Among the rail-related projects:
- St. Louis Multimodal Freight Yard Expansion at Madison Yard and Rail Improvements in St. Clair County, Ill. (partially funded for construction): This project is focused on expanding railcar capacity at Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis’ (TRRA) Madison Yard in Venice, Ill., which is near St. Louis, Mo. TRRA—Railway Age’s 2020 Short Line of the Year—owns a 100-acre site adjacent to the classification yard that can be used for expansion. The project would increase the current capacity of 2,500 railcars by 1,500 to hold a total of 4,000 cars. “This project benefits not only TTRA, but also the entire national freight network, as it adds capacity at a strategic freight node with connectivity to all Class I national rail carriers, inland ports of St. Louis, and truck terminals,” the Freightway reported. “It will also positively affect travel times for Amtrak by reducing delays from blocked main lines due to yarding today’s larger freight trains. Specifically, the project will allow increased efficiencies for the Mississippi River freight network for river-to-rail connections by being able to stage trains off the main lines; allow for more Storage-in-Transit opportunities; and alleviate freight rail congestion in St. Louis and other midwestern markets. Investment in the project will contribute to the growing regional multimodal logistics sector and support the critical redundancy TRRA’s Madison Yard provides in the regional and national rail network. Such investment in the national freight infrastructure is critical for future economic growth and will help to ensure the regional rail network can accommodate growing demand. The project is consistent with the strategic goals and objectives of USDOT’s National Freight Strategic plan.” The project cost is estimated at $69.3 million. TRRA has applied to the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program (FSP) for a grant to cover 80% of the project cost and the remaining 20% will be covered by TRRA, according to the Freightway. The Illinois Transfer 3rd Main Railroad Track project between the TRRA Madison Yard and Willows Interlocking in East St. Louis “will address freight bottlenecks downstream to the new double track Merchants Bridge by addressing yard congestion due to today’s longer trains,” the Freightway reported. This project, it noted, “will deliver fewer blocked grade crossings for shorter periods of time, less wasted locomotive emissions due to idle trains in an Environmental Protection Agency non-attainment area, higher utilization of the region’s Mississippi River intermodal ports, and will create more jobs due to the ability to more efficiently process freight in the St . Louis region.” At-grade rail crossings benefiting from this project will include St. Clair Ave., IL Rte. 15 (Missouri Ave.), Martin Luther King Dr., and IL Rte. 3. The estimated project cost is $28.7 million, and the Freightway said $15.3 million is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Competitive Freight Program.
- Kaskaskia Regional Port District Improvements, Illinois (partially funded for construction): The Kaskaskia Regional Port District is the 12th largest inland port district in the country. According to the Freightway, this project would add a second rail loop track; it also includes upgrades to the lead rail track and a rail yard at Port Terminal #1 (New Athens). $10 million in funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation has been secured for the loop track and an $8 million Maritime Administration Grant is supporting the upgrades to the lead rail track and building a new rail yard.
- MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Distribution Improvements, Illinois (concept planning/development): This project includes building an approximately two-mile rail spur from the Norfolk Southern main line at the southern edge of the airport, enabling freight rail access for businesses on the eastern side of the airport. The estimated cost is $45 million.
The Freightway also reported that the pipeline of rail-served industrial sites grew to 26 locations in 2025, now totaling almost 5,500 acres (download details below). Four new sites in Southwestern Illinois were added, offering developers heavy industrial zoning, multimodal access, and proximity to major interstates and utilities. “These sites are ideal for end-users seeking to leverage the region’s global connectivity with access to six Class I railroads and rail infrastructure that continues to attract new investment,” Freightway said.
“Rail distribution continues to grow in importance, and the St. Louis region is already recognized as one of the largest rail hubs in the nation,” noted Brent Wood, President of TRRA and Chair of the Freightway’s Freight Development Committee. “Rail service and infrastructure in the St. Louis region are constantly improving, thanks to the commitment of public and private leaders who are collaborating to identify priority projects and advocate for funding for them.”
“Our commitment to workforce development and multimodal connectivity ensures that the St. Louis region remains a resilient, world-class hub for freight, manufacturing, and aviation,” commented Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of its Freightway enterprise. “These advancements benefit not only our region but the entire national supply chain.”
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