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Illinois Ports Association

Navigating Illinois' Future: Connecting Waterways, Commerce, and Communities

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Why Illinois Ports Matter

Illinois lies at the heart of the nation’s transportation network. With thousands of miles of roads and rail, hundreds of airports, and numerous public transportation providers, the State of Illinois has one of the largest multimodal transportation networks in the country. Each of these modes plays an important role in the state’s robust transportation system. However, one of the most important elements of the system has often been overlooked: the waterway system.

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The Illinois Marine Transportation System connects Illinois farmers, manufacturers, and businesses to interstate and international markets. The system is vital to the state’s economy, transporting 90.6 million tons of goods, or 9% of Illinois’ freight tonnage. Barges flow up and down the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Kaskaskia rivers, and through the Chicago Area Waterway System and Lake Michigan, providing affordable, efficient, and clean transportation of goods.

Illinois Port Districts

âš“ Alexander-Cairo Port
âš“ America's Central Port
âš“ Havana Regional Port
âš“ Heart of Illinois Regional Port
âš“ Illinois International Port
âš“ Illinois Valley Regional Port
âš“ Jackson-Union Regional Port
âš“ Joliet Regional Port
âš“ Kaskaskia Regional Port

âš“ Massac-Metropolis Port

âš“ Mid-America Intermodal Port

âš“ Mt. Carmel Regional Port

âš“ Ottawa Port

âš“ Seneca Regional Port

âš“ Shawneetown Regional Port

âš“ Southwest Regional Port

âš“ Upper Mississippi River International Port

âš“ Waukegan Port

âš“ White County Regional Port

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About Illinois Ports Association

Illinois Ports Association is a professional association and economic development platform that serves as an advocacy group for inland river ports on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers in Illinois. Based in Granite City, IL, the association aims to provide valuable information about inland ports, member ports, and economic facts related to river, rail, and road transportation to the public through its informational website. The website will focus on educating visitors about the functions of inland ports and the economic significance of transportation.

Member Organizations

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© 2025 by Illinois Ports Association. All rights reserved.

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