(The Rockford Register Star published the following story by Sarah Roberts on its website on July 22.)
ROCHELLE, Ill. — The economic expectations for the new Union Pacific intermodal hub in this small town are so great that advocates talk about it as a national model, the economic future and a salvation.
Dick Davidson, chief executive of Union Pacific, was joined Monday by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and others to deliver $2.2 million in federal funds to help the project. The money will be used for infrastructure improvements, such as bridges, streetlights, and water and sewer upgrades.
“You’re looking at the building blocks of America,” Davidson said, pointing to the railcars behind him. “This project is quite a source of pride for Union Pacific, Rochelle and all of northern Illinois. ”
The federal money will allow Union Pacific to open the cargo hub by Aug. 1.
U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Sampson also were on hand Monday at the hub, as was state Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Sycamore, and state Rep. David Wirsing, R-Sycamore.
The check presentation was followed by a bus tour of the facility.
Known officially as Globe Intermodal III, the hub will be a place where trucks and trains exchange cargo from the Midwest, West Coast and international ports.
Intermodal transportation represents the fastest-growing segment of the rail company Union Pacific s business. Cargo can be shipped via rail, truck and air without having to be repackaged at each stop. The Rochelle hub is Union Pacific s largest intermodal hub, stretching across nearly 700 acres.
The bigger distinction is the economic growth expected to accompany the hub.
Already, Rochelle has seen the benefits of having the $181 million facility in its midst. Several businesses have put down roots in the community, including Erie Foods and Boise Corp. A 300-acre business park and new distribution center also are scheduled to open near the town. And officials expect other businesses to follow.
Ken Wise, director of the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corp., is the man responsible for generating interest in the intermodal hub.
He said the hub is expected to draw new businesses to the area — primarily distribution centers and warehouses — and become the focal point in trying to develop Interstate 39 as a logistics corridor, an alternative to congested Chicago transportation systems.
“It’s like the port of Boston just landed in Rochelle,” Wise said, explaining the hub’s potential economic impact.
“It’s just like a port. There’s no water, but it’s a port.
Last week, Neil Palmer, a consultant for Union Pacific, presented a before-and-after study on an intermodal hub outside Dallas that is similar to the one in Rochelle.
Those studies found that the hub far exceeded initial expectations in terms of job opportunities and economic investments. Palmer said he expects Rochelle s hub to do the same.
Facts & figures
* The Rochelle intermodal hub will handle 720,000 containers annually once it is fully operational.
* The processing time for a truck once it enters the facility will be between 45 seconds and one minute. The national average is four to five minutes.
* Union Pacific bought 1,200 acres for the hub project. About 700 acres have been developed, with the remaining land available for expansion.
* Enough asphalt has been used in the hub project to build a sidewalk 5 inches thick from Rochelle to Boston.
* Enough dirt has been moved to build a 40-story building on one city block in Chicago.
* The cargo hub has 15 tracks — two for receiving and departing trains, and 13 are used to sort cars by destination.