AASHTO Journal - FRA Issues $108M to State DOT Railroad Projects

The Federal Railroad Administration recently awarded more than $108 million to several railroad-related projects overseen by state departments of transportation in Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming through its Special Transportation Circumstances or STC grant program.

[Above photo by Wyoming DOT]

The STC grant program awards funding to states that lack intercity passenger rail service or are not connected to the national rail system and provides directed grant funding as a set-aside from several FRA grant programs, including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, Restoration and Enhancement, Railroad Crossing Elimination, and Interstate Rail Compacts programs.

Almost all of those STC-funded projects will benefit short line railroads, many of which serve as a crucial link in the rail supply chain for their respective regions, FRA said.

“No matter where you live in this country, rail systems play a critical role in getting people and goods where they need to go, and the STC grants ensure that no state is left behind when it comes to the development of a robust freight rail transportation system,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose in a statement.

“From funding upgrades to rail infrastructure resiliency and capacity to improving safety features at highway-rail grade crossings, these grants will strengthen American businesses and supply chains while making rail operations even safer,” he said.

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities will oversee two projects with that STC funding: The $11.6 million Alaska Railroad Corporation or ARRC Terminal Track Rehabilitation project; and a more than $4 million ARRC Flat Car Acquisition effort to acquire some 20 new general service rail flat cars for intermodal and manifest freight service.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation will oversee five projects with its STC grants:

The $3.2 million Sisseton Milbank Railroad Culvert Rehabilitation Project to replace, install, refurbish, lengthen, and realign culverts along the Sisseton Milbank Railroad Main Line to improve drainage and increase track stability.
The $8.3 million Ringneck & Western Railroad Grade Stabilization and Repair Project.
The $14 million RCP&E Upper Black Hills Corridor Upgrade Project to repair and upgrade the Upper Black Hills portion of the Pierre & Eastern Railroad main line.
The $9.9 million D&I Railroad Main Line Rail Relay Project to replace some 12 miles of worn-out rails.
The $963,000 Belle Fourche Industrial and Rail Park Track Expansion Project.

Finally, the Wyoming Department of Transportation will oversee the $38 million College Drive Grade Separation Project to build a bridge overpass to permanently separate College Drive – formally known as Wyoming State Highway 212 – from Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway trains.