Wisconsin grants give $17 million to freight rail improvements

Wisconsin doled out 10 state awards totaling $17,452,415, which will be used to construct freight rail-related facilities and preserve and upgrade rail infrastructure as part of an overall effort to support job growth and Wisconsin's economy. "Wisconsin's freight rail system plays a major role in our state's economy, moving raw materials to industry and finished products to markets," Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said. "These awards will help support economic growth in communities across our state and help ensure Wisconsin remains open for business." The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is administering six loans totaling $4,605,824 through the Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program. A revolving loan program, FRIIP awards are provided to private industries, railroads and local governments to improve rail infrastructure, highway-grade crossings and to construct new rail-served facilities, with the overall goal to boost economic development and jobs. As FRIIP loans are repaid, the dollars are used to help fund new projects. Four grants totaling $12,846,591 are being distributed through the state's Freight Railroad Preservation Program. FRPP grants cover up to 80 percent of the cost of projects designed to preserve rail service or rehabilitate fixed facilities on publicly owned rail lines. Freight Railroad Preservation Program grants 
(Some include FRIIP loans) Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad Co. • Marinette Marine spur track rehabilitation: The Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad will receive an $845,940 FRPP grant to cover 80 percent of the costs of rehabilitating 1.1 miles of track in the city of Marinette in Marinette County, Wis. WisDOT will provide another $105,743 in the form of a FRIIP loan to cover one-half of the 20 percent local match. The remaining 10 percent, or $105,743, will be provided by the E&LS. Total project cost will be $1,057,425. Repairs will be made to ties, ballast, surfacing, turnout and roadway crossing elements on the spur track. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. • Bridge study for Federal Railroad Administration required records: Wisconsin & Southern Railroad will receive an FRPP grant of $1,063,200 to cover 80 percent of the cost of completing a comprehensive bridge rating and evaluation study of bridges located on the rail system owned by WisDOT and the various rail transit commissions and operated by WSOR under contract. WSOR will also receive an FRIIP loan of $132,900 or 10 percent of the total cost. The remaining $132,900 or 10 percent will be provided by WSOR. New FRA rules require bridge studies to be done by rail line owners, which in this case are WisDOT and the rail transit commissions. The WisDOT/rail transit commission owned system has approximately 277 bridge structures. • Bridge rehabilitation and replacement: The WSOR will receive a total of $4 million in FRPP grant funds to cover 80 percent of costs for emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction work on system bridges. A FRIIP loan of $500,000 will also be provided to cover 10 percent of the project costs. The remaining 10 percent, $500,000, will be provided by the WSOR. Total project cost will be $5,000,000. These projects have been identified by engineering studies as emergency repairs that are vital to keep state-owned railroad corridors operational. The WSOR has identified over $33 million of bridge work that is needed over the next several years. The $5 million will complete work on 10 bridges located in Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Milwaukee, Rock, Sauk and Winnebago counties. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. • Saukville to Elkhart Lake Phase 1 track rehabilitation: The WSOR will receive $6,937,451 in FRPP grant funds to pay for 80 percent of the total $8,671,814 costs of Phase 1 rehabilitation work on the Saukville to Eklhart Lake rail line in Washington and Sheboygan counties, Wis. WSOR will also receive a FRIIP loan of $867,181 to cover 10 percent of the cost of the work. The remaining 10 percent of $867,181 will be provided by WSOR and the East Wisconsin Counties Railroad Consortium. The Phase 1 work includes renewal of 15 grade crossings, reconstruction of 16 rail turnouts, adding 53,000 tons of new ballast and replacement of 50,000 crossties. Phase 2 work, which will likely include replacement of worn rail with new 115 lbs. welded rail, will occur at a later date. Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (FRIIP) loans Zenda Grain LLC • A $1.5 million FRIIP loan to Zenda Grain will construct two additional grain storage bins including one 90-foot diameter bin for additional corn storage and one 78-foot diameter bin for soybean storage. The total estimated cost of the two bins is $2 million. Zenda Grain is applying for the program limit for non-rail improvements of $1.5 million. The remaining cost will be assumed by Zenda Grain. The project is located at the company's Zenda, Wisconsin property. The Zenda Grain LLC facility is located on a rail line served by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Company on right of way owned by the state of Wisconsin. United Cooperative • United Cooperative will use the $1.5 million FRIIP loan to construct a new grain elevator including grain storage and rail loading facilities near Sauk City, Wis., on the state-owned segment of railroad right-of-way between Mazomanie and Sauk City. United Coop will be constructing two, 48-foot diameter grain storage bins, a grain elevator leg and associated conveying equipment to load rail cars on the mainline track. The facility will serve as a rail loading facility for the cooperative's Sauk City facility and will greatly improve market access for farmers in southern Sauk and northern Dane counties.