With infrastructure improvements and expansions playing an integral role in hub choice for shippers, intermodal transportation of freight is expected to increase well into the future. Lamie commented on the correlation between population growth and the growth of intermodal transport.

“With the world population expected to grow by 25% and to exceed 10 billion people over the next 25 years, the need for efficient production and intermodal transportation of food is more critical than ever. The USDOT forecasts that the U.S. is becoming more urbanized, and urbanized areas are turning into larger metropolitan areas resulting in regions with higher volumes of freight. The USDOT is also predicting rail distribution will continue to grow in importance—estimating the industry will increase 30%over the next two decades.”

She noted, “Increased urbanization and world population that leads to a greater demand for food are driving the growth in containerized cargo both nationally and globally, emphasizing the importance of intermodal transportation and the ability of the U.S. to compete in the global market.”

Looking beyond the current Priority Projects List, the St. Louis Regional Freightway plans to continue an ambitious schedule of projects, which could have future project investment exceed current progress statistics.

Lamie said, “Over the next five to 10 years, we’re excited to say we could see a level of investment that far exceeds the current progress. During this period of time, work could be underway on more than $5 billion in infrastructure projects. Those projects would specifically benefit the regional and national supply chain, not to mention supporting the St. Louis bi-state area’s developer-ready industrial real estate sites. A sample of these projects include the following:

  • $2.8 billion proposed terminal at St. Louis Lambert International Airport
  • $178 million on Interstate-70 Improvements adjacent to St. Louis Lambert International Airport
  • $1.3 billion proposed MetroLink light rail expansion in St. Louis that supports the region’s workforce
  • $305 million for Illinois Route 3 relocation of a primary north-south manufacturing corridor running through southwestern Illinois
  • $98 million multimodal freight yard expansion at the Madison Yard just east of St. Louis City in Illinois

All of these projects are located in areas of high-growth industrial real estate, highlighting the value of infrastructure investment and positive impact to economic development.”