This project will plan an interconnect track for freight rail linking the ports granite city harbor which is located north of locks number 27 on the mississippi river with the madison harbor which…

The Maritime Administration awarded America's Central Port District a $550,000 Project Grant under the National Infrastructure Investments program (CFDA 20.933) on July 24, 2025, to conduct comprehensive planning and feasibility activities for an interconnect freight rail track linking Granite City Harbor and Madison Harbor along the Mississippi River in Illinois. The project, with an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2027, will deliver a detailed 30 percent design for two alternative alignments, a geotechnical exploration study, a benefits-cost analysis comparing both alternatives, and a full feasibility assessment evaluating impacts on port and regional freight network operations.

The grant deliverables include extensive public engagement activities consisting of stakeholder interviews with tenants, operators, and industry experts, along with one to two public open houses to gather community input on project goals and proposed alternatives. Additionally, the grantee will review previous engineering work on potential alignments and conduct preliminary investigative design work to support infrastructure planning decisions. No sub-recipient activities are identified for this award, with all work to be performed by America's Central Port District as the direct recipient.

This project will plan an interconnect track for freight rail linking the ports granite city harbor which is located north of locks number 27 on the mississippi river with the madison harbor which is located south of the locks. Activities will include public engagement a feasibility study review of any existing work preliminary design and a benefits cost analysis. Activities to be performed the project will be completed as one component, with the following elements. Public engagement conducted throughout the project. Phone virtual interviews with tenants operators and industry experts who are intimately familiar with rail and harbor operations on the property to understand impacts of the proposed project both to port operations and the regional freight network. One to two open houses to introduce the public to the project and gather input on goals and objectives and to provide an opportunity for the public to provide input on proposed alternatives. Feasibility study to include the following. Review of previous engineering work on potential alignments for an interconnect track between granite city harbor and madison harbor. Evaluate the potential affects of the project on port operations and the regional freight network. Develop 30 percent design two alternative alignments for the interconnect track. Conduct preliminary investigative design including a geotechnical exploration of the project area to aid in the determination of impacts of the potential interconnect track alternatives. Provide a detailed benefits cost analysis of each alternative. Deliverables expected outcomes there are no performance measure to raise grants. Intended beneficiary america s central port district. Subrecipient activities none.