Competitive Freight Program

The Illinois Competitive Freight Program is a statewide competitive grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Established to support Illinois' strategic freight transportation priorities, the program aims to develop a safe, efficient, reliable, resilient, and sustainable intermodal freight system. It aligns with the Illinois State Freight Plan and is primarily funded through allocations from the Federal Highway Administration under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The program is designed to strengthen Illinois’ position as a national and global freight hub by funding projects that reduce bottlenecks, enhance freight safety, improve intermodal access, and support technological advancements in freight operations. Funding supports a range of activities including planning, engineering, and construction of freight-related infrastructure across roads, rail, waterways, and intermodal facilities. Eligible projects must demonstrate consistency with the Illinois State Freight Plan and contribute to statewide economic development, environmental sustainability, and improved quality of life. Eligible applicants include local, state, or governmental entities. The program encourages leveraging private and public sector partnerships to maximize investment impact. Awards are made competitively, and recipients must provide 20 percent in matching funds, with the federal contribution covering up to 80 percent of project costs. Importantly, the FAST Act permits up to 10 percent of funding to be directed toward intermodal projects, while the IIJA expands that limit to 30 percent. Funding decisions are guided by project evaluations that emphasize objectivity, equity, and transparency. In the 2018 round, 46 applications were submitted, with 23 projects awarded. These included projects across a range of types such as roadway construction, grade separations, and truck parking. In 2023, a second round saw 35 applications, of which 22 were selected for funding, including 13 local and 9 state projects. Approximately 30 percent of the 2023 funds were allocated to intermodal projects. Awards in that round ranged widely, with requests from $139,000 to over $65 million, and an average request of $11.6 million. Although specific submission deadlines for the next round are not yet announced, the program is expected to continue based on available federal funding and future transportation bills. IDOT plans to use lessons from completed and ongoing projects to inform development of future rounds. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor IDOT’s freight planning website or subscribe to the freight contact list for announcements of future funding opportunities. For additional information, applicants can contact the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Planning at 2300 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62764. The email for inquiries is DOT.ILFreightPlanning@illinois.gov and the phone number is 217-785-2353. Program updates and application instructions are provided on the program website.