Illinois Railroads and Port Get $56.7 Million in Federal Infrastructure Awards
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration awarded a combined $49,906,330 through its CRISI Program to two Illinois railroads: $42,554,984 to the Decatur and Eastern Illinois Railroad and $7,351,346 to V&S Railway. The Maritime Administration also awarded $6,772,000 to America’s Central Port in Granite City under the Port Infrastructure Development Program.
The Decatur and Eastern Illinois award will fund new rail and ties, upgraded switches and sidings, improved crossings and rehabilitation of a key bridge along a grain corridor. The V&S project will rebuild 1942-era yard track in Granite City and add a transload spur serving a new continuous welded rail facility, which the office says should roughly triple domestic output in Granite City.
The port funds will rehabilitate the port’s only access to all six Class One rail carriers, according to Executive Director Dennis Wilmsmeyer.
Why it matters
The awards modernize freight rail and port infrastructure serving industrial and agricultural users in central and southwestern Illinois.
Source: Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), October 30, 2026. Read the original release
