The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to spend nearly $1.2 milllion on upgrades to railroad signing and pavement marking at various locations on two shortline railroads.
The state agency is doling out $781,910.92 for upgrades to railroad signing and pavement marking at various Central of Georgia Railroad locations in Baldwin, Jasper, Morgan, Putnam, Washington, and Wilkinson counties.
It is also shelling out $416,092.10 railroad signing and pavement marking at various Georgia Northeastern Railroad locations in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties.
GDOT records show that Peek Pavement Marking LLC was the low bidder for both projects.
The money is part of $48.8 million awarded by GDOT for 18 projects at the monthly State Transportation Board meeting held in February. Officials said contracts were awarded to the lowest-qualified bidders on March 6.
The railroad safety projects are part of roughly $1.8 million allocated for four safety contracts. The safety projects represent 4% of the total funds awarded.
Georgia owns several railroads, which the state acquired after lawmakers passed legislation in 1977 allowing the state’s transportation department to financially help railroads continue service that would otherwise be abandoned. The latest numbers show that the Peach State owns 540 miles of track, 465 of which are active, and GDOT’s Intermodal Division manages the state-owned short lines, including the contracts with lessees and administers taxpayer funding.
The state previously claimed ownership of the Georgia Northeastern Railroad line, but records indicate the state owns the section of the line from a point in Gilmer County to the Tennessee state line. A GDOT spokesperson did not respond to a request from Railfanning.org to confirm the state’s ownership of the line.
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