AUGUST 2026 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation 19 ST. LOUIS REGION: WHERE PRIME SITES MEET POWERFUL ADVANTAGES Choose from thousands of acres of developer ready, strategically positioned real estate sites—supported by one of the nation’s most efficient freight networks and a workforce built for productivity. • #1 most efficient U.S. inland port district • 6 Class 1 railroads: Global Connectivity • 15% more productive manufacturing workforce than the national average • 6.5x more aerospace / 3.5x more animal food manufacturingemployees than peer metros • $9 billion+ in infrastructure enhancements • Living costs 13.7% below national average For customized site selection support, contact Mary Lamie at (314) 982-1562 or [email protected] FW260403 TheFreightway.com/AJOT St. Louis continues to drive expansion and investment in its ports Ohio River serves as Midwest’s freight superhighway, but challenges remain By Andrew Meadows, AJOT The St. Louis region’s four ports continue to chug along as a major Midwest economic engine, with investment, expansion and long- range planning showing no signs of losing momentum. Operating along a 70-mile stretch of the Mississippi River, the regional port network includes much more than St. Louis proper. For example, the Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD) is the 12th-largest inland port district in the country, while Amer- ica’s Central Port in Granite City, Illinois, is home to two harbors that By Andrew Meadows, AJOT The mighty Ohio River has long been a Midwest freight superhighway, reliably moving bulk materials and ag products downbound and upbound between endpoints in Cairo, IL, and Pitts- burgh, PA, through hundreds of public and private ports and terminals. The river - the largest portion of Marine Highway Route M-70 - is show- ing its age though, with its 20 locks and dams in need of crit- ical improvements. About 80% are more than 50 years old, and many are approaching or past their design life. These conditions reduce system efficiency, according to an Ohio state maritime develop- ment report. As part of its August Midwest Ports issue, AJOT checked in with a handful of Ohio River users and officials to get their take on commerce along its 981- mile course. Ohio River Commission Last year, Ohio policymakers created the Ohio River Commission to advocate for the river and help implement the Ohio Maritime Plan, a policy guide for the state’s mar- itime transport network. Taylor Abbott, the first executive director of the Commission, said the Commis- sion works alongside terminal operators and public and pri- vate partners to iden- tify infrastructure needs, strengthen multimodal connections, improve competitiveness, and position strategic projects for future investment. “The Ohio River is a powerful eco- nomic asset and also contains tremen- dous, untapped potential. By building and maintaining strong partner- ships, stakeholders in the region can Taylor Abbott, executive director, Ohio River Commission MIDWEST PORTS 2026 MIDWEST PORTS 2026 The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) announced an expansion of its Madison Yard facility in Venice, Illinois, adding approximately 500 railcar positions dedicated to storage-in- transit service, with the new capacity expected to begin accepting cars in October 2026. (DRIVE – continued on page 20) (SUPERHIGHWAY – continued on page 20)
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.