2018 Summit Updates

American Commercial Barge Lines (ACBL)

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI)

ACBL has a new fleeting and shifting service in Channahon, IL with 35 barge fleeting slots and services the 15 dry and liquid cargo terminals in the Dresden Island pool. ACBL’s Glenn W. Jones was the first vessel through the new Olmsted Lock, projected to be the busiest lock by tonnage in the country. Due to a revised cost ratio, Olmsted finished four years ahead of schedule at a cost savings of $330 million.

WCI has long supported the Olmsted project which required innovative engineering solutions. Mike Toohey, President and CEO of WCI, says “Each year the national economy will realize $650 million in benefits over the life of the Olmsted project.” Olmsted lock on the Ohio River in Illinois replaces deteriorating locks and dams 52 and 53.

Anacostia, Chicago South Shore Freight (CSS)

CSS is joining NICTD and NIPSCO in a two-year, $300 million project to install an additional 17 miles of second track on 25 miles of the South Shore line between Gary and Michigan City, IN. This will realign freight and commuter operations in Burns Harbor and eliminate a historic bottleneck. The result will be smoother, less-congested passenger and freight operations. CSS will use some of NIPSCO’s idle property at the Bailly Generation Station to promote business development.

Illinois Corn Growers Association (ILCGA)

Japan is now allowing U.S. ethanol to meet up to 44% of a total estimated demand of 217 million gallons of ethanol used to make ETBE, or potentially95.5 million gallons of U.S. produced ethanol annually. As Illinois is the number 1 exporter of ethanol, most of the 44% will come from Illinois. Japan imports nearly all of the ETBE from ethanol that it uses.
The U.S. industry’s efforts to maximize production efficiency through technological innovations leading to higher GHG emission reductions for corn-based ethanol and the emergence of co-products like distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) have supported this new access to the Japanese market.

The Kearney Companies, Inc. (TKC)

TKC constructed a new, 600 ft. common use rail track to service the warehouse for the nonferrous metals cargo for the London Metals Exchange.

Port of Chicago

Received a $10.9 million grant for the Butler Drive project. The Port hired Daniel Anguiano as part of the Jobs Program to hire young, non-violent felons in entry level jobs.

Port NOLA

MARAD awarded a $2.5 million grant to the port to support the current container-on-barge shuttle service plus other new container-on-barge shuttle services.

St. Louis Regional Freightway

Awarded $248,700,000 by IL Gov. Rauner for five of their infrastructure projects. The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) is replacing the Merchant’s Bridge.

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