The Federal Railroad Administration is putting $2.3 billion into 105 freight and passenger rail projects across 45 states and Washington, D.C., Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Monday. The money comes from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program and will improve over 2,000 miles of track.
Washington isn’t covering the whole tab, since state, local, and private partners are adding over $1.9 billion. That puts the combined total above $4.2 billion.
Ties That Bind:
$218 million to Wisconsin DOT to extend Hiawatha passenger service, which currently runs between Chicago and Milwaukee, into Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane counties, with new stations.
$43.5 million to the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to rehab eight of the 11 spans on the Toledo Swing Bridge and replace its timber fender systems, enabling 286,000-pound railcar capacity.
$37 million to Maine DOT to rehab about 90 miles of line in Northern Maine with new rail, ties, and ballast.
$33.6 million to the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad for work between Fort Smith and Monett, including two new sidings and 14 wayside rail lubricators on high-degree curves. Even steel appreciates a little grease on the tight turns.
One Big Slice: Wisconsin’s award alone is nearly a tenth of the entire pot. With 105 projects splitting $2.3 billion, the average award comes to roughly $22 million, so the Hiawatha extension landed about 10 times that.
Shortline Shoutout: FRA Administrator David Fink said the funds give shortline railroads resources for “long overdue improvements.” Demand ran high, with CRISI drawing a record number of eligible applications this cycle.
Not the First Rodeo: The awards follow Duffy’s August announcement of $5.3 billion for rail safety, infrastructure, and new Amtrak trainsets.
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