Located at the intersection of Interstate Highways 88 and 39 and Class I railroads operated by BNSF and Union Pacific (UP), the City of Rochelle Railroad and the RITC “provide a location where industries of all sizes can access direct rail services, whether or not they have rail at their company location,” the City said in a press release.
Opened in 2020 as a joint effort between the City of Rochelle and the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation, the facility transloaded 1,000 railcars and served as a staging area for hundreds of shipping containers used by a dozen customers. Increased demand for rail-to-truck transloading and third-party logistics services in the Rochelle area are requiring the expansion of RITC, according to the City.
“Today’s expansion of the Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center is a testament to our city’s commitment to economic growth and regional connectivity. We are proud to be a hub where industries of all sizes can thrive, and this project reflects our continued investment in the future of Rochelle as a critical logistics and transportation center in the Midwest,” Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows said.
“The success and rapid growth of the RITC demonstrate how strategic infrastructure investments can unlock opportunities for both local businesses and global supply chains,” said City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh. “We are excited to see this expansion come to life, and we remain focused on providing the support and resources companies need to move goods efficiently and reliably through Rochelle. The City of Rochelle is proud to partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation and grateful for the available funding, through the rail freight program, which provides needed infrastructure enhancements such as this.”
“We continue to be excited about future growth in Rochelle, IL and how we can benefit the community and companies,” said Peter Hoth, Principal-Corporate Development at Burlington Junction Railway (BJRY). “Our customers and Class I railroad partners are essential to that growth. We are dedicated to continuing providing our ‘white glove’ rail switching services to our customers and transload partners through the City of Rochelle Railroad.”
“This expansion will not only help unlock economic potential in Rochelle, but it becomes an important asset for the movement of freight in Illinois, the transportation hub of North America,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “We are proud to have helped see this project to fruition through a grant from our Illinois Competitive Freight Program, which is increasing safety, improving reliability in the nation’s supply chain and boosting commerce at the community level throughout the state.”
