With multiple transportation and logistics assets, Illinois is a state on the move.
by Patty Rasmussen
Illinois is the nation’s undisputed transportation and logistics hub, thanks in part to bold public and private investments in infrastructure, including a recently proposed 15-year, $26.5 billion tollway upgrade. The proposed Driving Connections capital program, which would begin in 2027, would deliver improvements across all five tollways, covering the entire 12-county Illinois Tollway system region. But the impact of additional recent investments speaks for itself.
Come Fly With Me
In April, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) reclaimed its spot as the busiest airfield in the world according to data compiled by Airports Council International (ACI) World. In 2025, O’Hare recorded 860,015 aircraft operations, a 10.8% increase over 2024, or the equivalent of one takeoff or landing every 37 seconds around the clock every day of the year. O’Hare is currently undergoing a massive $8.2 billion transformation dubbed ORDNext, which includes construction of two new concourses, a new Global Terminal, and upgrades to systems and technology throughout the airfield.
Meanwhile, Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) also set a new record, serving more than 310,000 passengers in 2025, and processing 3.4 billion pounds of total landed weight, a 9.25% increase over the previous year. In a statement, Zack Oakley, executive director of RFD, credited the strong cargo performance to expanded international partnerships and high market demand for greater operational efficiencies in the Midwest.
“Our cargo business is built on consistency, speed and trust,” said Oakley. “That’s why long-term partners continue to invest here, and why RFD continues to play an outsized role in the national supply chain and our regional economy.”
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, located in Mascoutah in southwest Illinois, is classified as a primary commercial service airport, the same category as O’Hare. Located just 25 miles from St. Louis, Missouri, MidAmerica served a record-breaking 384,000 passengers in 2025, 25.3% higher than 2024 totals, thanks in part to expanded routes to beach destinations throughout Florida and the addition of a twice-weekly flight to Gulf Shores, Alabama. MidAmerica expects even more operational improvements and efficiencies after completion of a new 25,277-sq.-ft. Federal Inspection Station building in spring 2027.
Regional airports play a crucial role in Illinois’ transportation and air cargo operations. Stretching from Waukegan National Airport (UGN) in the northeast to Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA) in Marion, serving communities in the state’s south-central region, these multi-county, sometimes multi-state airports provide affordable, convenient options for travelers and businesses in the areas they serve.
Transformational Rail Investment
Illinois is the largest and most important freight rail hub in the U.S., with 25% of all freight and 50% of all intermodal trains passing through Chicago. It’s the only state in the U.S. where all six Class I railroads meet in two locations — Chicago and East St. Louis.
In June 2025, Canadian National (CN) Railway announced a $170 million capital investment to build the Chicago Logistics Hub, an intermodal terminal and logistics park, on land adjacent to the communities of Minooka and Channahon in Grundy County, Illinois. The two-part project includes the development of a truck-train intermodal facility serviced by the CN rail line. Construction of the first phase began in early 2026 and is estimated to be operational in 2027.
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the world’s busiest in aircraft takeoffs and landings, is in the middle of a massive $8.2 billion transformation that will improve passenger experience and upgrade airport systems and technology.
Photo courtesy fly2ohare
The second phase, a traditional logistics/business park near the intermodal facility, is more complex. The project requires review and approvals by the Village of Channahon Planning and Zoning, and approval by the Village Board of Trustees. No timeline has been issued for completion.
The project’s economic impact is substantial. The intermodal operations are expected to create 365 permanent jobs, while the logistics side of the operation is expected to create 6,200 jobs. When fully built out and operational, the Chicago Logistics Hub will generate an estimated $20.9 million in new annual tax revenue for local communities.
Streaming Service
The Mississippi River is a treasured asset for national and global commerce. The river ports and barge network transport millions of tons of produce and manufactured goods annually, offering many Illinois exporters, particularly growers, a cost advantage over rail. Barge transport keeps freight costs low while connecting Midwest producers directly with exporters in the Gulf.
The Chicago campus of Canadian National (CN) Railway, currently developing a truck-train intermodal facility serviced by the CN rail line. The first phase of the project began in early 2026 and is estimated to be operational in 2027.
Photo courtesy of Lonnie Wishart
In recent years, climate-related issues such as rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events have caused challenges for river shippers. Both low water and severe flooding restrict barge traffic, slowing shipments during harvest season, while high water can shut down locks and disrupt navigation. The result is volatility for industries and individuals looking for predictability.
However, the state made significant infrastructure investments funded by the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program. The combination of federal and state funds allowed the state to modernize locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, expanding capacity and improving reliability. These upgrades, along with resiliency planning and enhanced dredging, position the state to protect its competitive advantage on this valuable resource.
Staying Chill
Anyone questioning Illinois’ standing as the premier Midwest cold-storage hub should look no further than the 78,000-sq.-ft. Container Freight Station (CFS) and bonded facility owned and operated by GEODIS, a leading global logistics provider, which opened near O’Hare International Airport in April. It is the company’s first dedicated cold-chain cross-dock facility in the Americas and serves as a critical hub within the GEODIS freight-forwarding network. The facility handles healthcare products exclusively, providing short-term stowage and specialized handling for air and ocean pharmaceutical exports and imports.
Chicago and the entire state have long held an advantage in the cold-storage market as a tier-1 logistics hub with access to outstanding multi-modal transportation assets: railways, highways and airways. That’s not expected to change. A 2025 Insights report from JLL noted that, despite disruptions, investors see upward growth trends in industrial assets anchored by cold storage, last-mile grocery and other hybrid uses.
In other words, Illinois remains on the move.