Kansas Governor Announces $11M for Rail Service Improvement Program Projects
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly this week announced that the Kansas Department of Transportation's (KDOT) Rail Service Improvement Program will provide $11.2 million for ten rail service improvement projects across Kansas.
Governor Kelly said “Investment in rail infrastructure is an investment into the economic success of the entire state. Thanks to the Rail Service Improvement Program, we’re ensuring that all Kansans can benefit from efficient movement of goods throughout the state.”
The projects are located across ten counties and will enhance the state’s rail network by promoting economic efficiency, supporting sustainability, and addressing critical infrastructure needs, according to the Kansas DOT. The $11.2 million funding for these projects includes the program’s annual $10 million grant, along with $1.2 million in “carryover” funds and loan payments from previous projects.
Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed said “KDOT’s Rail Service Improvement Program represents a true public-private partnership in enhancing Kansas’ rail network. The demand for the program and the projects it supports is evident, with KDOT receiving applications for twice as much funding than was available.”
One of the projects awarded a grant is the Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad’s Siding Expansion Project, which will accommodate a projected increase of 8,000 carloads from the new $400 million GAF shingle production facility in Newton. The new facility is scheduled to open in late 2026, and the new siding tracks will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide a staging ground for all Newton traffic. Two locomotives and six team members are expected to be added to the railroad to handle the traffic volume increase.
The Selected 2026 RSIP Projects:
| Sponsor | Project Title | County | Award |
| Cimarron Valley Railroad | Hugoton Capacity Expansion Project | Stevens | $2,556,238 |
| Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad | KO Newton GAF Siding Expansion | Harvey | $2,060,178 |
| Kyle Railroad | Kyle Yuma Subdivision Rail Upgrade Project, Phase III | Cloud | $1,671,566 |
| V & S Railway | V & S Railway Bridge Maintenance | Barber/Harper | $1,025,017 |
| South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad | SKOL Chanute Yard Track Upgrade | Neosho | $716,274 |
| Garden City Western Railway | GCW West Line-Main Track Upgrades, Phase II | Finney | $420,000 |
| Land Rush Rail | Land Rush Rail – Emergency Repairs | Sumner | $323,583 |
| Ardent Mills | Ardent Mills Rail Expansion Project | Sedgwick | $1,509,900 |
| Bartlett – Montgomery County | Product Loadout Track Extension | Montgomery | $787,298 |
| Kanza Cooperative Association | Kanza Coop – Andale Rail Project | Sedgwick | $118,364 |
| 10 Projects Total | $11,188,418 |
