WisDOT awards more than $31 million for freight rail projects

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) awarded more than $31 million in grants and loans for seven freight rail projects in the state. The goal of Wisconsin's freight railroad assistance program is to increase the use of rail transportation and support economic development and job creation.

 

WisDOT is distributing more than $24 million in grants through the Freight Railroad Preservation Program (FRPP). FRPP grants cover up to 80 percent of project costs to help preserve freight rail service or rehabilitate track on publicly-owned rail lines. In addition, WisDOT is providing loans worth more than $7 million through the state’s Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (FRIIP). FRIIP is a revolving loan program used to improve rail infrastructure and construct new rail-served facilities.

Recipients for 2015-2016 include the city of New London where a $384,000 FRPP grant was awarded to rehabilitate a city-owned industrial spur that is connected to a Canadian National branch line in Outagamie County. The project will replace 1,100 ties and add 900 tons of ballast to approximately one mile of track. Two public road crossings also will be reconstructed. Rehabilitation of the spur track will reactivate rail access to a timber processing plant owned by Granite Valley Forest Products. Reactivating this spur will allow Granite Valley to bring in hardwood logs by rail from other states that are currently trucked to its facility, reducing the company’s shipping costs and will enable the company to expand production at the site through addition of a sawmill, resulting in the hiring of an additional 15 full-time employees.

Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Company (WSOR) received four project awards including the Prairie Subdivision Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects. The Phase 1 (rail replacement) received a $2,543,608 FRPP grant and $317,951 FRIIP loan to replace existing 85 and 90 lb. rail with 115 lb. continuously-welded rail on 2.4 miles of track in Prairie du Chien. Five public crossings and 10 turnouts also will be reconstructed between Prairie du Chien and Wauzeka. Phase 2 (tie replacement) received a $2,978,400 FRPP grant and $372,300 FRIIP loan to replace ties and resurface track on 45.5 miles of track between Avoca in Iowa County and Crawford in Crawford County on the Prairie Subdivision in preparation of installing continuously-welded rail. WSOR will replace 30,000 ties between Avoca and Crawford during this phase of work on the Prairie Subdivision. Waukesha to Milton Phase 2 track rehabilitation will benefit from $8,098,600 of FRPP grant funds and a $1,012,325 FRIIP loan to implement Phase 2 of a multi-year project to rehabilitate 41.25 miles of track between Waukesha and Milton. Work in Phase 2 will include reconstructing eight public crossings, five turnouts, installing 115 lb. continuously-welded rail and 11,800 ties over 12.7 miles of track and resurfacing 15 miles of track. And finally, the Spring Green Bridge Reconstruction/Replacement project received a $10,428,912 FRPP grant and $1,303,614 FRIIP loan to replace several of the spans that comprise a bridge located near Spring Green. This project has been identified by engineering studies as necessary to keep the Prairie du Chien-to-Madison rail line operational.

In Luxemburg, Wis., a $1.5 million loan was awarded to construct a grain bin, dryer and conveying equipment at the Rio Creek Feed Mill facility located in Luxemburg in Kewaunee County. The facility is located on a rail line owned and served by Canadian National. The new equipment and facilities will permit Rio Creek Feed Mill to vastly increase their capacity to handle canola pellets and meal, their primary commodities, as well as help local growers ship out corn, oats, wheat and soybeans.

In Vlders, Wis., a $2,650,000 FRIIP loan was awarded to construct two rail spurs and a 9000-ton dry fertilizer plant in Valders in Manitowoc County. When complete, the project is expected to reduce fertilizer shipping costs by nearly $200,000 per year for the co-op’s member growers. The expanded facility will be served by Canadian National.

Since 1994, WisDOT has provided more than $195 million in FRPP grants and more than $120 million in FRIIP loans to help fund 160 infrastructure acquisition, rehabilitation and improvement projects statewide.

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