Improvements are already sparking additional private investment, will provide increased efficiencies and new opportunities for shippers and site selectors

St. Louis, MO - Infrastructure improvements being made at the St. Louis region’s public ports complement the $440 million investment underway to replace the nationally significant Merchants Rail Bridge and the I-270 Bridge, both over the Mississippi River. From new rail spurs and warehouses to terminal expansions and new riverbank landings, all four public ports in the St. Louis region are collectively investing more than $20 million in their facilities, making them even more attractive to site selectors seeking property with access to the inland waterways, six-class 1 railroads with low rail congestion and four interstates that offer quick truck turnaround. The completed projects will help to ensure the St. Louis region continues to deliver competitive and reliable freight movements for the global supply chain, and they are already attracting additional private investment within the port system.

“Centrally located in the heart of the United States with close proximity to America’s agricultural heartland, major Midwest populations and manufacturing centers, and featuring the northernmost ice-free/lock-free access on the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, the St. Louis region’s ports play a critical role in the nation’s freight network,” said Mary Lamie, executive director of the St. Louis Regional Freightway. “These investments and the resulting efficiencies mean shippers moving commodities through the St. Louis region will continue to benefit from lower distribution and logistics expenses and shorter travel times.”

Here’s a look at the specific investments being made within each of the individual ports:

Port of St. Louis (Missouri) – The Port of St. Louis Municipal River Terminal is finishing up a $1.5 million project that is Phase 1 of a rail upgrade to replace a rail spur linking to the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) and all Class I Railroads. They are now in design for the $2.2 million Phase 2 of the rail upgrade using FY2020 grant funds from the Missouri Department of Transportation, with completion expected in June 2020. The St. Louis Port District’s Municipal River Terminal is the only public general-purpose dock in the region on the west side of the Mississippi River.

“The improvements to the rail spur will benefit terminal operator SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals and the various shippers they transload goods for at the multimodal facility,” said Port Authority Director Susan Taylor of the St. Louis Development Corporation.

America’s Central Port (Granite City, Ill.) - In December 2018, through a grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), America’s Central Port (ACP) completed construction of a new, $1 million project to add a 1,500-foot rail spur to serve a prime 60-acre development-ready lot on the Port's property. That project has already generated a 10-acre lease for transloading, with the potential for construction of a new manufacturing and distribution building.  ACP also has received multiple grants for four additional projects, one of which started this summer. Among those are surface improvements at the Granite City Harbor Dock, which is estimated at almost $1.37 million and is funded through a freight grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).  The project will make the last mile transloading process more efficient at this particular harbor.  This project has already spurred about $2.5 million in private investment for related infrastructure and equipment upgrades.  EDA grant funding also is supporting renovations to two buildings on the Port’s property, as well as rail associated improvements. Building 202 is a 6,500-square-foot industrial building formerly used as a steam plant, while Building 203 is a 42,000 square foot former U.S. Army locomotive maintenance bay. The $3.27 million project will convert both for use as manufacturing space. The fourth project, funded by IDOT and scheduled to begin in summer 2020, is a new $2 million right-in/right-out highway entrance to the port for trucks entering and leaving the property. 

“America’s Central Port is served by six Class-I railroads and we now have 30 miles of track on our property, which also is served by two harbors with rail and truck transloading capabilities,” said Dennis Wilmsmeyer, executive director of ACP. “The new rail spur is an excellent addition to a centrally located site at the Port, while the additional investments being made will help facilitate continued growth within our facility.”

Jefferson County Port Authority (Missouri) - The historic Delta Queen steamboat is expected to make its inaugural cruise from Kimmswick, Mo., in 2020, and in preparation, the Jefferson County Port Authority (JCPA) is proceeding with design and construction of a riverboat bank landing in Kimmswick. The landing is being designed to accommodate any river cruise boat, including passenger excursion vessels as large as the American Queen.  The landing will initially consist of an at-grade concrete pad along the shoreline of the Mississippi River, two deadman structures for vessel tie-off, and a potable water supply. The budgeted amount specifically for the Kimmswick bank landing is $ 1.2 million, made possible by a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Waterways grant, and a 20 percent matching grant from Jefferson County. Construction is anticipated to begin late this fall.  The Kimmswick landing project is part of a five-year plan that calls for an amphitheater, expanded parking, a boardwalk and an overlook on the banks of the Mississippi, as well as kayak rentals and fishing in the natural habitat of the adjoining slough. An at-grade railroad crossing at Market St. and Front St. also is included.

“Building on the long-term vision made possible by the Great Streets grant Initiative awarded to the Jefferson County Port Authority by East West Gateway Council of Governments, we are moving forward with our community partners Jefferson County and the City of Kimmswick to return this historic river town back towards its beginnings as a riverboat destination,” said Neal Breitweiser, executive director, Jefferson County Port Authority.

The Jefferson County Port also is the proposed site for a terminal to support innovative Container on Vessel Service to the Midwest; but those plans, which would require public-private investment, are still in the early stages.

Kaskaskia Regional Port District (Monroe, Randolph and a portion of St. Clair County in southern Ill.) - Several projects of note are underway at the various facilities in the Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD). The Port has submitted a BUILD grant for $9.5 million to expand terminal at KRPD #1.  This capital improvement will consist of a second loop track, a dump pit, two outbound conveyors, siding and other track upgrades. The expansion will allow the port to ship fly ash and gypsum outbound. A Delta Regional Authority Grant for $140,000 has been awarded to replace the Port District Railroad crossing on IL Rt. 154 at its KRPD #2 terminal. The Port just finished installing a new bridge on its rail line to replace a large culvert that was close to failing.  KRPD also has entered into an agreement with IDOT to develop a Master Plan for KRPD #2, where tenant Kaskaskia Shipyard just completed building its third towboat as it grows its operations. This master plan is designed to reduce congestion at the Port and calls for a third dock to be built on eight additional acres the Port purchased two years ago.

“The plan should be completed in a year and will serve as a blueprint for capital improvements over the next two decades,” said Ed Weilbacher, KRPD General Manager.