ROCHELLE – The City of Rochelle has secured a Joint Funding Agreement for the federally funded construction of a rail transload yard and rail extension project located east of Steward Road, near the Ogle/Lee County line.
Sam Tesreau, Rochelle City Engineer, said that government funding will make this possible.
“In mid-2023, the City Manager was notified that the project met the criteria for the IDOT Competitive Freight Program and could be funded in part with available grant funding,” he said. “Subsequently, IDOT NHFP funds were approved for the project in the amount not to exceed about $5.2 million.”
The total project cost is estimated at $6.8 million, with the City’s share expected to be about $1.6 million, to be drawn from the Railroad Fund.
The project involves nearly a half-mile of new rail and pavement expansion, including stormwater management systems and a new culvert. Bidding is expected to begin in May, with construction slated to begin in June. This will expand Rochelle’s Transload Center, which currently can accommodate sixty cars on two tracks.
