Gate Entrance: 119th Street, Blue Island, IL 60406 | Google Map | Website | Interstate Access: I-57, I-294 | MAFC Corridors: I-57
The Iowa Interstate Railroad System (IAIS) is a regional railroad that has connections with six Class I railroads: BNSF, Union Pacific (UP), Canadian National (CN), Canadian Pacific (CP), Kansas City Southern (KCS), CSXT, and Norfolk Southern (NS).
The Blue Island Intermodal Terminal (BLU) is located in the Chicago area. IAIS also shares an intermodal facility in Council Bluffs/Omaha with Union Pacific. BLU offers container-on-flat car (COFC) service only. The function of this terminals is that of a cross-town facility—where a drayman or a railroad delivers a container from one railroad to another for continuance of the move.
It is located within the I-57 and I-294 corridors. IAIS does not own the trackage to the facility. IAIS has trackage rights over a Metra, Chicago Rail Link, and a Canadian National line.
There are no truck counts available from Illinois DOT on either 119th St. or Prairie Street.
Intermodal Connectors
Currently 119th Street from Division Street to I-57 is designated as an intermodal connector. However, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has proposed deleting this segment from the National Highway System as CMAP-conducted truck counts are below intermodal threshold for the Federal Highway Administration.
Intermodal Lanes
This terminal services the following locations according to the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council Logistics Database.
- Des Moines, IA: Newton Rail Port (NWT)
- Iowa City, IA: West Liberty Rail Port (WLB)
- Omaha, NE: Council Bluffs Rail Port (CBF)
Lift Counts
Lift counts reported by railroads to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
- 2012: 40,345
- 2011: 38,400
- 2010: 34,800
- 2009: 37,200
Warehousing and Distribution
The following map shows the locations of transportation support industries, warehouses and distribution centers in the vicinity of the IAIS Blue Island facility.
