M-55 Illinois-Gulf Marine Highway Initiative

2013Final reportPDFTech ReportInland water transportationInland waterwaysIntermodal facilitiesIntermodal transportationRiver portsRoll on roll off shipsMarine highwaysResearch HubIllinoisMissouriMississippiLouisianaTennesseeKentuckyIowaMinnesotaWisconsinMissouri. Department of TransportationHart, ArnoThe RNO Group, LLCMissouri. Department of TransportationHeart of Illinois Regional Port DistrictUnited States. Department of Transportation. Maritime AdministrationReeve & AssociatesEnvironmental Advisors & Engineers, IncNational Maritime Enhancement InstituteUS Transportation CollectionM-55 Marine Highway Corridor Study: The Heart of Illinois Regional Port District and Missouri Department of Transportation jointly sponsored the M-55 Marine Highway Corridor Initiative in order to develop marine intermodal transportation services on the United States\u2019 Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. As a part of that Initiative, a study was commissioned to identify regionally significant industries in the Peoria, Illinois area that would consider shifting their freight transportation providers from trucks to container or roll-on roll-off (Ro/Ro) marine vessels. Local equipment manufacturing firms and agricultural producers were identified as potential customers for a Ro/Ro or container-on-barge service, as their cargoes have dimensions or weights that are relatively expensive to ship over the road and may not fit with dimensions allowed on rail. The study team developed a business and operational plan for a Ro/Ro and container-on-barge service with weekly departures that meets those shippers\u2019 service requirements. That business plan appears financially feasible if its vessel utilization forecasts are met. However its prospects for success would be improved by securing return cargoes for transport to the Peoria area (i.e., backhaul), developing a purpose built container vessel (i.e., self-articulated barges), and financing needed port equipment. Governmental assistance in designing and financing those vessels, as well in funding the needed port equipment, could expedite the deployment of a service along the M-55.93