$3.6M Awarded to 12 Rail Projects in Kentucky
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Courtesy of Norfolk Southern
FRANKFORT, Ky. - $3.6 million in state grants was awarded to 12 rail projects in Kentucky improve safety, storage capacity, and maintenance.
According to the release from Kentucky Governor Beshear’s office, the funds were distributed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) via two grant programs. $2 million came by way of the Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvement program, or KIASI. $1.6 million came from the Kentucky Rail Crossing Improvement program, or KRCI.
The Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvement Awards program allocates $7.5 million each fiscal year for “rail-related projects. The projects are recommended by a committee “railroad equipment, construction, reconstruction, improvement or rehabilitation of rail facilities or engineering work associated with capital projects.” A committee made up of KYTC and representatives of the Cabinet for Economic Development recommend projects for this program.
Norfolk Southern received $600,000 for projects in Boone, Grant, Lincoln, and Mercer counties. These fund will go toward soil stabilization for railroad beds for mainline track and two with tracks from industrial parks. The release goes on to state that Pittsburg Glass Works LLC was awarded $1.4 million for constructing a 580-foot spur line in Madison County. this will connect to CSX and improve railcar storage capacity.
The Kentucky Railway Crossing Improvement Awards program funding will go toward upgrading signals and lights and install raised curb medians with reflective markers. According to the release, two projects “will also receive full crossing surface replacements in addition to safety improvements.” Paducah and Louisville Railway and Norfolk Southern were awarded rail crossing grants for projects in eastern, central, and northern Kentucky.
Governor Beshear said, “Kentucky’s investment in transportation safety is essential not only for roads and bridges but for our railway crossings, where cars, trucks, school buses and emergency vehicles pass every day. . . Safer infrastructure sends a signal to families and potential investors that they have a place in our New Kentucky Home.”
