OmniTRAX Signs 90-Acre Long-Term Lease for Industrial Real Estate Hub in Blue Island, IL

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. — OmniTRAX, a rail and real estate affiliate of Broe Real Estate Group, has signed a long-term lease for a 90-acre multimodal logistics hub in Blue Island, Illinois, the company announced Feb. 26, 2026. The facility, located at the intersection of 119th and Division Streets within the Blue Island Commercial Center, is positioned as Chicago's newest and largest multimodal logistics site, with operations commencing immediately.

Industrial Real Estate Deal Brings Rail-Served Hub to Chicago's South Side

The 90-acre parcel sits on Chicago's South Side and provides direct access to all Class I railroads through OmniTRAX's Chicago Rail Link affiliate, which has operated in the Blue Island area since 1992. The site offers bulk commodity rail-to-truck transloading, secure truck and trailer storage, and secure container storage, according to the announcement.

"This is an extremely rare rail-served industrial site in the heart of Chicago that offers unparalleled market access," said Chris Tecu, Senior Vice President at OmniTRAX. "The City of Blue Island has a proud industrial and rail heritage that makes this partnership a perfect fit. This is a fantastic public-private partnership that is the model for shared success."

The transaction represents a leasehold interest rather than an outright acquisition, with OmniTRAX operating the facility under a long-term lease agreement. Financial terms of the lease were not disclosed.

OmniTRAX and The Broe Group's Rail-Served Industrial Strategy

OmniTRAX is described as one of North America's fastest-growing privately held rail management companies and serves as The Broe Group's rail and real estate affiliate. The Blue Island project leverages existing operational infrastructure, as Chicago Rail Link has managed rail operations in the Blue Island Yard since 1992. The new hub's connectivity to all Class I railroads through Chicago Rail Link addresses a recognized scarcity of rail-served industrial real estate in major metropolitan markets.

The site's proximity to Chicago's largest labor pool and access to Heartland markets are cited by OmniTRAX as factors positioning the hub to serve both regional distribution and national logistics needs.

The City of Blue Island Commercial Center: Municipal Context

Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto expressed support for the project, citing anticipated job creation and new investment for the municipality.

"This project will bring new jobs and new investment to the City of Blue Island," Bilotto said. "We are excited to partner with an experienced infrastructure company like OmniTRAX that brings national relationships and industry leading service to help our community attract new partnerships that build long-term community value."

The public-private partnership structure — in which OmniTRAX operates under a long-term lease rather than taking ownership — aligns municipal interests in tax base and employment with the company's operational model. The new project marks continued investment within the City of Blue Island, building on Chicago Rail Link's presence in the Blue Island Yard dating to 1992.

Market Implications for Chicago Industrial Real Estate

The Blue Island logistics hub enters a Chicago industrial real estate market where rail-served sites of this scale are described by OmniTRAX as "extremely rare." The facility's multimodal capabilities — combining rail, truck transloading, and container storage — address supply chain connectivity needs in the broader Chicago region.

The immediate operational launch, announced concurrently with the lease signing, signals the company's intent to begin generating activity at the site without a prolonged pre-opening period. No tenant commitments beyond OmniTRAX's own operational presence were disclosed at the time of the announcement.