September 2017 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal Page 9 Page 10 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal September 2017 Q&A with John Nations, president and CEO of the Bi-State Development Agency, and Mary Lamie, executive director of the St. Louis Regional Freightway District

IBJ: Why did Bi-State launch the St. selected to be the freight district for the St. and counties. We’ve also continued to build Louis Regional Freightway District? Louis region. Our role is partnerships and relationships with to promote other regions both in the Midwest and Nations: We’re very proud of that. St. IBJ: Why freight? the bi-state throughout the Gulf Coast area to continue Louis has key transportation assets. This is region. If we to tell our story; to let others know what the northernmost Nations: It’s an opportunity for growth are collectively we have to offer from a competitive point you for this region. Cities and regions are marketing the logistics perspective. It’s an opportunity can go on the looking at where their individual cities bi-state region to meet shippers and carriers who are Mississippi can compete. St. Louis does very well in and all of our deciding how their commodities are going River education, financial services and health competitive to move from one part of the world to completely care. And when you look at freight and advantages, the other part of the world. And it is also unrestricted logistics, the St. Louis region has a Lamie everyone an opportunity to work collaboratively by locks and tremendous amount of assets. This could stands to benefit. Our job is to go out and with them to decide where transportation dams. There really be a growth sector. The freight promote those competitive advantages; corridors will be throughout the Midwest, is tremendous study also pointed out that between now attract site selectors; have them recognize and throughout the nation, and it allows us highway and 2040 there is a projected growth in the region’s competitive advantages; and to work with them directly. Nations capacity and freight of 30 percent. So, when you look start bringing their manufacturing and airport capacity. Six of the seven Class I at the country, St. Louis sits at a very logistics industries to our area. We are working closely with my railroads come into the St. Louis region. advantageous place. counterpart in Kansas City, supporting Whether you measure by total tonnage In 2014, both and Illinois IBJ: What’s been accomplished so far? each other for improvements to Interstate or by value, the St. Louis Port District ranked in the top five for states in terms 70. We are also working with the Port of ranks as the second- or third-busiest port of tonnage and value moved on freight Lamie: The first thing is that we Kansas City. We work with the Chicago in the country. We have a lot of good rail. We are a key logistics portion of the launched the freightway.com website. area. Chicago is obviously one of the top infrastructure in place. country. With the opening of the new It has an interactive map that tells you freight hubs in the nation, but they have a The East-West Gateway Council of Panama Canal, everyone is looking for everything you need to know about our lot of congestion. Our message is that we Governments did a freight study that opportunities. This is an area we believe multimodal assets and our industrial are a good backup to Chicago when they pointed out that we have all these assets that we can grow our economy. The real estate sites. Our target market is are having weather or congestion issues. in an ideal location. So, why were we purpose of the freight district is to take on site selectors. The website has identified So, you need to consider investing in our not more of a logistics center? While that responsibility. To grow and enhance the top industrial real estate sites in infrastructure. there were multiple people involved in this sector. the bi-state area. Before, site selectors We are working with Paducah and freight, it became clear that there was no considering the area had to work with a lot Louisville to see how we can improve our one person or organization marketing for Lamie: The freight study indicated of different offices and different entities. barge movements and try to maximize the region, advocating for the region in other regions had very aggressive We’ve streamlined that process. Now you those movements from the Midwest to logistics and the freight economy. We put marketing campaigns and we were can go to the website and find all the sites New Orleans. We are working with New a business plan together for East-West being outmarketed. Efforts to attract that meet the criteria for the next Amazon Orleans. We went to New Orleans earlier Gateway Council of Governments, and in site selectors for our region were not or Home Depot distribution center or September of 2014 we were unanimously regional and focused on individual cities fulfillment center. n Continued on the next page

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@TheFreightway /TheFreightway September 2017 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal Page 11 Q&A Continued from previous page Nations: By the combination of the interconnectivity with all the modes of private-public partnerships with two- this year and signed a Memorandum Merchants and the MacArthur Bridges, transportation. If we don’t have good rail thirds of the funding coming from the of Understanding with the Port of New more freight moves across the Mississippi access to the St. Louis area, that drives our private sector. The bridge is unique in Orleans. From a marketing perspective, it River at St. Louis than anywhere else. costs up. the fact that six Class I railroads are shows we offer a tremendous amount to They are two of the oldest structures across utilizing it as well as Amtrak, so from shippers and carriers. And symbolically the Mississippi. So, Mary in a very short IBJ: What needs to be done to the a commerce perspective it really serves it wasn’t just the Freightway, it wasn’t period of time did something that people ? the entire nation. We’re hopeful they will just John Nations and myself going still marvel at. She got all the modes, all make federal funding announcements down there, we had our three public port the sectors, public, private, to come up with Lamie: While the bridge has two sets sometime in the spring of 2018. Part of representatives from two states. We had the needs analysis and the infrastructure list of tracks, only one track can be used at a the criteria for evaluating these projects is America’s Central Port in Granite City, that resulted in everyone coalescing around time because it wasn’t designed or built project readiness. The Terminal Railroad Illinois; the St. Louis Municipal River the Merchants Bridge being the No. 1 126 years ago to carry today’s loads. The Association will essentially have those Terminal that is operated by the City of St. priority. That is a key accomplishment. superstructure needs to be replaced so that plans completed by the fall of this year and Louis; and the Kaskaskia Regional Port it will be able to handle two trains at the if funding were available, they could begin District in Illinois. It was a regional effort. IBJ: How did you get all of those same time. construction as early as this fall. At times, those ports are in competition different groups to agree on the Merchants with each other but we were trying to Bridge as the top infrastructure priority? IBJ: What is the project cost? IBJ: What comes next? promote the whole region. The goal was that as we work with shippers and carriers, Lamie: It sells itself because the Nations: $200 million. $125 million is Lamie: Replacing the Interstate any success that any of them have, private sector recognizes the value of us already available through a commitment 270 Chain of Rocks Bridge over the benefits the whole region. all working collectively together. And, by the Terminal Railroad Association of St. and improving the when we asked the private sector what Louis and its members. We are working on I-270 corridor from Illinois Route 111 to Nations: One of the five elements of the we needed to do from an infrastructure securing the last one-third. An application in Missouri. The business plan that East-West Gateway was perspective for you to stay in the St. for a grant for federal funding will be I-270 outer belt is one of the most traveled looking for was a freight development and Louis area and create opportunities for resubmitted with the help of the Missouri freight corridors in the region and is a needs analysis plan. There wasn’t a needs growth, they said, you need to invest in Department of Transportation. link to the national freight network with analysis for freight in St. Louis as to what the Merchant Bridge; you need to invest connections to Interstate 44, Interstate 55, the infrastructure was, where it was and in Interstate 270, you need to invest in IBJ: What are the chances of receiving Interstate 64 and Interstate 70. The Chain what needed attention. One of the biggest first mile/last mile projects. Next to the the grant? of Rocks Bridge has experienced rising things Mary was able to accomplish was interstate system, the Merchants Bridge is maintenance costs due to the age of the to get public entities and private entities one of the most important transportation Nations: We can’t predict that. What we structure and increases in traffic volumes. and different modes of transportation to projects in the region, maybe even in the do know is that we have an application for Unfortunately, the construction schedule agree on a needs analysis, which resulted nation. a project that is of national significance. could be over a 20-year period of time. in the Merchants Bridge becoming the No. We believe it is a very strong application We’re working with regional and national 1 priority on the list. Already we have bi- IBJ: Why would the barge industry and have been told so by multiple people. leaders to help maximize infrastructure state, bipartisan, political support for that agree that a railroad bridge is the top It has the unanimous support of the bi- investment to reduce travel time delays project and already have gotten pledges priority? state region as well as our U.S. senators for commuters and the freight industry. for two-thirds of the cost for the bridge and congressional delegation that this is Infrastructure investment for projects like replacement. Lamie: It surprised me, too, but they a priority. So, what we believe is that we I-270 is critical to ensure both the region said that in order for us to have low have an application that ought to compete and the nation have a reliable and efficient IBJ: Most St. Louisans have never competitive barge rates we have to have very well nationally for federal dollars on transportation system and have a freight heard of the Merchants Bridge. Why was low competitive freight rail rates and, a critical infrastructure program. network that remains competitive with the that No. 1 one? more importantly, we have to have that Lamie: We also feel it is a model for global market.

Terminal Railroad Association, owners, pledging $136 million to Merchants Bridge

By ALAN J. ORTBALS In the late 1800s, St. Louis had 24 One of the keys to success of the St. railroads serving the St. Louis terminal, Louis Regional Freightway effort is the each either terminating or originating in strength of the area’s railroads. the metropolitan area with their own track. Railroads are divided into three classes The Terminal Railroad Association of St. based on their operating revenue. Class Louis was formed in 1889 to streamline I railroads are those with operating rail traffic through St. Louis. It is currently revenue in excess of $250 million and owned by five of the six Class I railroads carry the most volume of freight. Of that serve St. Louis. the seven Class I railroads servicing In the 1980s when the MetroLink light the country, six traverse the St. Louis rail system was being planned, the TRRA terminal — the Union Pacific Railroad, owned the Merchants Bridge and the Eads the Norfolk Southern, CSX, the Canadian Bridge which last ran trains in the 1970s National, the Kansas City Southern and as the car lengths of modern rail traffic the Burlington Northern Santa Fe – BNSF. could no longer clear the sharp curvature The Canadian Pacific is the only Class I of the Broadway Tunnel between railroad that does not come through the Laclede’s Landing and Busch Stadium. region. Through a deal with the City of St. Louis, While the first railroads reached the the TRRA swapped the for Illinois bank of the Mississippi River the MacArthur Bridge to free the Eads up in the 1830s, the first bridge to span the to carry MetroLink. Mississippi River in St. Louis, the Eads Today, with a combination of the Bridge, wasn’t completed until 1874 and Merchants and MacArthur Bridges, St. it was privately owned and operated as a Louis is the No. 1 geographic rail crossing monopoly. across the Mississippi River with more Responding to exorbitant fees to use the than 70 crossings per day. But, that total is bridge, the merchants of St. Louis came held down because the Merchants Bridge, together to build their own bridge in 1889 due to the bridge’s age and the weight of north of the Eads, which became known modern trains, is only able to handle one as the Merchants Bridge. The 127-year train at a time despite having two tracks. old Merchants Bridge is still in service today. n Continued on the next page

Artist’s rendering of renovated Merchants Bridge. Page 12 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal September 2017

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport entertains international cargo carrier prospects Your Vacation Begins By ALAN J. ORTBALS nonstop,” Cantwell said. “They have MASCOUTAH — MidAmerica St. to land en route. The infrastructure Louis Airport, one of two international in South America doesn’t match the at MidAmerica Airport airports in metro St. Louis, boasts a infrastructure in the United States. The 10,000-foot runway, 17 acres of aircraft airplanes coming out of South America parking ramps and 2,300 acres of into the United States don’t have the developable land with immediate access trans-Pacific capabilities. The planes to Interstate 64 and all of it backed coming out of the United States to China by a Foreign Trade Zone and Illinois do. The goal is to link up South America Enterprise Zone. with China through the United States. With these advantages in mind, North There’s no better base for that service LAS VEGAS (LAS) MYRTLE BEACH, SC (MYR) Bay Produce located its 60,000 square- than the Midwest from South America foot perishable handling terminal and to China. And, MidAmerica has all of PHOENIX/MESA, AZ (AZA) JACKSONVILLE (JAX) Midwest hub at MidAmerica in 2012. the tools to support the specific needs of SANFORD/ORLANDO (SFB) It hauls produce from Latin America to that commerce – international perishable DESTIN/FT. WALTON BEACH (VPS) Europe and Asia. handling and air transport.” In describing the transport of those Cantwell said hauling perishable cargo TAMPA BAY/ST. PETE (PIE) goods Airport director Tim Cantwell requires uninterrupted refrigeration. FT. MYERS/PUNTA GORDA (PGD) explained that planes coming from South “China doesn’t have the last mile FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (FLL) America are unable to fly nonstop to the refrigeration and that’s key in food Far East. quality,” Cantwell said. “Refrigeration “South America air service doesn’t No matter which of Allegiant Airlines’ nine, amazing destinations you’re flying have airplanes that will fly to China n Continued on the next page to from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, you’ll find yourself in vacation mode from the moment you park your car.

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Cargo plane on tarmac at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. International agribusinesses developing Sauget riverfront By ALAN J. ORTBALS Seacor and ADM have been joined the hopper cars and they Development of materials handling by Gavilon, a commodity management have 24 hours to unload. facilities along the Sauget riverfront firm located in Omaha, Neb., that ranks A lot of these trains has been booming in recent years. Rich 13th on the Forbes list of privately held are moving as they are Sauget, Sr., president of East County companies. Its focus in Sauget is on its unloading. It’s hard to Enterprises, said that it started about fertilizer business. describe how big of an eight years ago when the Archer Daniels Eagle Marine Industries has opened operation this is.” Midland Co., a global agribusiness a facility to manufacture barges. And, Riverfront land in company headquartered in Chicago, built David Jump, president of American Sauget and Cahokia is a terminal on the river. They’ve been Milling Co. in Cahokia, has also sold becoming scarce, but joined by others since. property to two global commodities Sauget says there is Seacor Marine, an international companies: the Louis Dreyfus Group, still 450 to 500 acres company with headquarters in Houma, headquartered in Amsterdam and Cofco available in the nearby La., and Dubai, has built a transfer Corp., a Chinese company. Sauget Business Park. facility on the Sauget riverfront that “What’s going on on the riverfront “On one side of the The FedEx Ground building in Sauget Business Park. brings in products by truck, rail and in Sauget is monstrous,” said Sauget. park is a 100-acre rail pipeline for transfer to barges. It includes “These unit trains of between 80 and 120 yard,” Sauget said. On another, the third truck access east, west, north and south. four, 100,000-gallon tanks for liquid grain cars come in. They have hatches busiest airport in the state of Illinois. On storage. on the bottom to release their grain from the east side is I-255 providing ready n Continued on the next page September 2017 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal Page 13 Mid America Terminal Railroad Assoc. Continued from previous page Continued from previous page is key to what we’ve set up between is like having the first restaurant in the One of the top priorities of the newly Class I railroads up and down here and China. It’s called a ‘closed cool mall,” Cantwell said. “You have to get organized St. Louis Regional Freightway the Mississippi for approximately chain,’ which is an industry-specific one and then you can get the others.” is to coalesce a regional consensus on 130 miles in either direction. There’s not a standard for keeping the temperature Cantwell said that he is in constant priority projects. Number one on that lot of rail crossings across the Mississippi consistent from MidAmerica Airport contact with North Bay Produce, list, by unanimous decree of all parties River so the St. Louis area serves as a to Ningbo, China, our partner airport which currently trucks product in and involved, is the renovation of the vital transportation who completed construction on a distributes from the Midwest. “But, Merchant’s Bridge. gateway.” 25,000-square-foot perishable center on when we get a carrier based here on a The $211 million project will Raza said that they are hoping that their cargo aircraft parking ramp.” scheduled route, we will get all of North seismically retrofit the bridge by drilling grant awards will be made during the first Cantwell is seeking a cargo carrier that Bay’s cargo flying out. Then that’s an new piling, encasing the existing masonry quarter of 2018. If that comes to pass, will run three flights a week but, in the opening to export fresh, Midwest foods piers in concrete and replacing all three he said, construction will begin soon meantime, he says charter business is to China. steel river trusses. The new structure will afterward since all of the engineering has doing well. When that cargo carrier is secured, it be constructed to modern clearances and been completed and the plans are ready “As an example, Sabreliner Corp. will require changes to MidAmerica, load ratings to carry the next 100 years to bid. is retrofitting internationally-owned Cantwell said. There are already 457 of heavier and wider freight. About $136 Construction is expected to take three helicopters at its plant in Perryville, non-county employees working on the million is funded privately by TRRA and to four years, Raza said. The three spans Mo.,” Cantwell said. “Twice this year, property and the parking lot is 85 percent its owners. The Missouri Department of will be built on land then floated in by they came in here to move project freight full. Transportation has agreed to apply for barge. Depending on the grant, the project out to the Middle East. That is a growth “All the pieces are coming together,” $75 million in federal funding through is expected to begin in 2018 and be area for the region because we don’t Cantwell said. “The freighter cargo is not the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America completed in 2021/22. have any scheduled freighter services the toughest thing but it is the next thing. grant program. While competition for the “At one-time St. Louis was the fourth- into or out of the region. The charters I entertain prospects every day about grants is stiff, Asim S. Raza, the TRRA’s largest city in the United States and that work out really well.” what they need and what we can do for chief legal officer and director of real was based upon its geographic assets But the focus continues to be on them. We have 2,300 developable acres estate and marketing, says the project has and location,” Raza said. “What the securing a bulk freight carrier that will adjacent to the new Rieder Road exit on a good chance. Freightway is doing is focusing on those fly out of MidAmerica multiple times per I-64 that is currently under construction “It’s a project of national significance,” assets and marketing them regionally, week. and it’s perfect for light manufacturing, Raza said, “because these are the only two nationally and internationally as a “Having the first one decide to do that warehousing and associated uses.” rail crossings available to all the various logistics area of importance.” Sauget Business Park Continued from previous page It’s also in an Illinois Enterprise Zone Some of the major tenants of Sauget Center, FedEx Ground, Gasket & Co., Peterbuilt Truck, R&L Transfer, and a Tax Increment Finance District. We Business Park are Affton Fabricating Seal Fabricators Inc., Holten Meats, Treehouse Foods, Stellar Manufacturing have everything you need.” & Welding Co. Inc., the 255 Logistics Hulcher Services, Mid-America Fiber and Universal Air Filter. America’s Central Port harbor improvements aim for cargo carriers

By ALAN J. ORTBALS primarily manufacturers — an opportunity regional freight services and marketing transportation capital of the United States.” America’s Central Port has been busily to locate here and take advantage of that to it, showing to the rest of the country working on expansions, additions and lower their overall transportation costs.” and the world that St. Louis is the true n Continued on the next page improvements over the last year, including Construction of the Madison Harbor the erection of a new 126,000-square- just south of Lock 27 was a $50 million foot distribution facility that is now fully project. Some 9,600 feet of rail track was leased. built, more than one million cubic yards A 25,000-square-foot distribution of dirt was moved and more than 8,000 building has also been leased. And, 4.5 cubic yards of concrete was poured to new miles of new rail track was finished create the new rail/truck/barge terminal late last year. All of that is part of the and general cargo barge dock. The location continuing development of the new of the harbor allows for full operation of Madison (formerly, South) Harbor. its facilities all year during all water levels. One of the buildings is leased to River’s Rail service includes Class I rail carriers Edge Terminals, a trans-loading operation that can be accessed via the new rail loop that brings in commodities by rail and with 24/7 switching service provided by exits by truck. Dennis Wilmsmeyer, the Port Harbor Railroad. port’s executive director, said the district’s Wilmsmeyer said the Madison Harbor board is considering extending additional project was done with an eye toward the rail track to other undeveloped areas of the changes in global transportation including port’s grounds to help attract new tenants. the expansion of the Panama Canal that The focus, he said, would be primarily on was completed last year. With the Madison manufacturers that can take advantage of Harbor, America’s Central Port is now well all the modes of transportation supplied by situated to handle the growth in container- the port. on-barge business that is expected as a “We have a unique opportunity in the result of the canal expansion, he said. St. Louis region to continue to develop Earlier this year representatives of the a world-class multimodal transportation St. Louis Regional Freightway District, facility,” said Dennis Wilmsmeyer, the including Wilmsmeyer, traveled to New port’s executive director. “If you look Orleans to sign a marketing agreement around at the different industrial parks and with its port district. distribution centers, they do a fantastic “The creation of the St. Louis Regional job but it’s usually just one mode of Freightway District was one of the transportation. We have barge, rail and smartest moves the region has made in The Port’s 1,200-acre Multi-Modal Business and truck here, giving those companies that many years,” Wilmsmeyer said. “Bringing Industrial Campus o ers rail service to six Class I carriers, need multiple modes of transportation — together under one umbrella all the 1.9 million Sq. Ft. of warehouse space, and is located 10 minutes north of downtown St. Louis.

We o er competitive rates on: Industrial Sites Warehouses O ce Space

For More Information Visit Us At: www.americascentralport.com The Madison Harbor at America’s Central Port. Page 14 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal September 2017 Agriculture freight network in region poised for growth GRANITE CITY — One 15-mile barge transfer facilities are earning — carrying 110 to 125 railcars of grain 3 a day, with each unit crossing Route 3 section of the Mississippi River in the St. recognition as a more cost-effective and and agricultural product — in just a few twice a day. In early 2017, the fluctuation Louis region delivers the highest level of efficient means to transfer products by hours. reached four unit trains per day. In the grain barge handling capacity anywhere barge for shipment to the Port of New “Barge loading and unloading capacity fall, CGB will complete unit train rail along the Mighty Mississippi — so Orleans as compared to other areas north has expanded in the St. Louis area to take improvements, which will increase the much so that it is now being called the of St. Louis. advantage of these train rates and barge amount of unit trains that cross Illinois “Agriculture or Ag Coast” of the nation That recognition comes on the heels of freight rate adjustments,” Jump said. Route 3 to potentially six. According in terms of barge transfer facilities for investment of more than $200 million in “The four highest capacity grain barge to Jump, COFCO has the capability agricultural products. the region’s agricultural product barge loading facilities in the entire inland for two additional unit trains, with the To sustain and grow the market share, transfer infrastructure facilities since waterway are in Cahokia. Three of the potential to accommodate a four-unit infrastructure investment in multimodal 2005, he said. four were built in the past five years. As train per day capacity. In addition, Jump interconnectivity is critical, local officials “The St. Louis region is a rail and a result of increased handling capacity said American Milling is planning for an say. interstate highway gateway,” said Jump. and favorable barge freight values, the additional barge transfer facility, which As production and demand for “It is more cost-effective to move St. Louis region has become a very would increase the St. Louis region’s commodities like corn and soybeans commodities into, out of and through significant destination for these trains.” capacity to handle even more grain and increases, the St. Louis region is said St. Louis by combinations of truck, rail The four agricultural product transfer grain products in the future. to be strategically positioned to handle and barge than points upstream on the facilities in Cahokia are operated by The growth in capacity comes as the a significant portion of the expected Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The Consolidated Grain and Barge Company; demand for exports continue to increase. increase in freight volume along the freight cost to ship large cargoes through Louis Dreyfus; and China National Jump told the Freightway port working mostly inland waterway. places like Davenport (Iowa) or Peoria Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation group members that U.S. soybean Those findings were revealed in (Illinois) to and from New Orleans has (COFCO International) — China’s exports have increased from 20 million August during a panel discussion at increased significantly, while the freight state-owned grain and food processing tons to 57 million tons over the past 30 America’s Central Port in Granite cost to ship through St. Louis to New manufacturer and trader. Jump noted years, and corn exports increased from City, with David Jump, president of Orleans has not increased at all, and is in that China has become a large buyer of 32 million tons to 57 million tons. Cahokia-based American Milling, and fact, netted down for this year.” soybeans, with 35 percent of soybeans The St. Louis region is seeing a Jeff Keirn from the Illinois Department The reason it is more cost-effective for grown in the United States being direct economic impact as a result of Transportation. The meeting, hosted companies to transfer freight through exported to China. COFCO never owned of this increase and its capacity to by Bi-State Development, St. Louis the St. Louis region is due to the more a grain/agriculture barge transfer facility handle additional amounts of grain and Regional Freightway and America’s efficient infrastructure and handling in the interior of the United States until agricultural products. Central Port, provided a positive outlook capacity offered via the region’s open last year when it invested in the St. Louis “In 1985, more than 5 percent of grain on the bi-state region’s role as a national waterways and barge transfer facilities. region. Jump said China will begin barges arriving in the New Orleans and global freight hub. According to Jump, there has been buying grain coming into Cahokia this harbors were coming from the St. Jump said the amount of river consolidation in the river transportation fall. Louis region, and now that number has business in the St. Louis region has industry over the last decade, and barge The frequency of unit trains along increased to about 30 percent,” Jump disproportionately increased over the lines are becoming more streamlined by Illinois Route 3 has increased since 2016 said. “The factors that are forcing growth past three decades. There is an increased focusing on efficiency. Railroads have and is expected to increase again this in the St. Louis region are not going demand for the transfer of grain across offered cheaper rates to large barge- fall. In 2016, fluctuations resulted in as away. There is nothing on the river like the industry, but the bi-state region’s loading facilities that can turn unit trains many as two unit trains crossing Route the St. Louis region.”

America’s Central Port Continued from previous page

Wilmsmeyer said that the port in the coming years the port will be able services we provide, that needs a great facilities that are inefficient. Is there a encompasses 1,200 acres and they made to start attracting industry, manufacturing transportation opportunity. A company way to get them to come look at what a strategic move a couple years ago to and distribution companies to some of the that wants to grow and potentially needs we have to offer? We can greatly lower a get the district’s enabling legislation other communities that it serves. a new facility,” he said. “We are targeting company’s costs in terms of the build-out changed to expand its boundaries far to “We continue to strive to find the those manufacturers out there that may of rail or roadway because a lot of that the north. He said that he is hopeful that next company out there that needs the be working today in very old or outdated infrastructure is already right here.”