The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded more than $108 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which some call the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to nine projects in Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming.
The money is from the Special Transportation Circumstances Grant Program.
Almost all projects will benefit short line railroads, many of which are small businesses that serve as a crucial link in the rail supply chain. Selected projects will upgrade tracks, acquire new railcars, improve or eliminate highway-rail grade crossings, and more.
Alaska:
- Rail yard improvements at Alaska Railroad Corporation’s (ARRC) Seward and Fairbanks terminals will improve existing operations and accommodate future growth at these terminals, where freight volumes continue to grow.
- AARC will procure approximately 20 new general-service flat cars necessary to haul pipe, machinery, lumber, and other products to go into service along the ARRC corridor serving Seward, Whittier, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and North Pole, Alaska.
South Dakota:
- Culverts will be upgraded along the Sisseton Milbank Railroad (SMRR) main line to improve drainage and increase track stability, making the rail line more resilient in extreme weather.
- More than 16 miles of track and 34 structures will be upgraded on the Pierre & Eastern Railroad, Inc. (RCP&E) main line to improve operations and safety and support economic development and growth along the Upper Black Hills corridor.
- Seventeen grade crossings and approximately 12 miles of track will be upgraded to increase safety, capacity, and speeds on the D&I Railroad.
Wyoming:
- A potentially dangerous highway-rail crossing on College Drive/Wyoming State Highway 212 will be closed. A new overpass bridge will be built to prevent collisions between motorists and trains and improve mobility.
