U.S. DOT completes agreement to help revitalize Appalachian shortline

Written by jrood

The U.S. Department of Transportation has completed an agreement that will help fund West Virginia's portion of the Appalachian Regional Short Line Rail project, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. The project, receiving a $1.77-million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, includes upgrades to crossties, highway-rail grade crossings and bridges. 



"Shortline railroads play
an important role in our nation’s transportation system," said Secretary
LaHood. "Investing in this project will spur economic growth for the region and
create jobs for the community."

 



Once completed, important
commodities like coal, aluminum, sand and chemicals will be diverted from truck
to rail, reducing highway traffic, congestion and wear on roads. The use of
rail, a more cost-effective and environmentally sound method for moving freight
in this corridor, will help economic growth in the domestic and global markets.



The grant is part of the
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program
included in ARRA to promote innovative, multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional
transportation projects that provide significant economic and environmental
benefits to an entire metropolitan area, region or the nation. West Virginia is
the first state participating in this project to sign its TIGER grant agreement
with the U.S. Department of Transportation.



West Virginia, Kentucky and
Tennessee together will receive $17.5 million in Recovery Act dollars to pay
for the Appalachian Regional Short Line Rail Project that will pay for
rehabilitation of hundreds of miles on five unconnected shortline railroads in
the three states. 

The Department announced the selection of $1.5 billion
worth of TIGER grants for 51 projects as part of the one-year anniversary of
the Recovery Act on February 17, 2010.

Tags: