HUMBOLDT – Governor Laura Kelly joined Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz today to announce that the State of Kansas is giving $11.5 million in grants to advance 17 railroad improvement projects across Kansas. The projects – the majority of which are in West and South Kansas – will be funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s State Rail Service Improvement Fund (SRSIF). Governor Kelly shared the list of SRSIF’s spring 2022 grantees during an event at the Monarch Cement Company in Humboldt, the largest grantee this cycle.
“Kansas’ railroad industry is vital to the state’s economy and the nation’s supply chain system,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This $11.5 million investment will modernize our rail network, strengthen our position as a national logistics hub, and enable farmers and ranchers to get their products to market faster.”
SRSIF is part of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). Since IKE was founded in 2019, it has awarded nearly $50 million in grants and matching community contributions to 26 improvement projects. Core to IKE is state-local collaboration; each grantee contributes at least 40% of the improvement project funding. With the grantees’ contributions, the total investment in rail improvement projects throughout the state is $19 million.
“Combining state and private funds to improve local infrastructure is a core principle of IKE: leveraging partnerships,” Secretary Julie Lorenz said. “By placing emphasis on right-sized, practical improvements, together we are effectively addressing critical infrastructure needs for agriculture and manufacturing in Kansas.”
These grant funds, made available to short-line railroads, shippers, and other qualifying entities, will be used for significant track rehabilitation and capacity improvement projects. Funds may also be used for financing and acquisition activities and the purchase of rolling stock.
Below are the projects receiving funding from the SRSIF for fiscal year 2022:
Project Sponsor Project Award
Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad Replace rail on .5 mile of curves $112,595
Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad Upgrade 51 bridges to 286K $955,500
Cimarron Valley Railroad Major rehabilitation $1,048,872
South Kansas and Oklahoma Replace 9 switches in Winfield Yard $380,803
Railroad
South Kansas and Oklahoma Major rehabilitation/286K $619,564
Railroad
Americold Logistics Siding replacement $28,951
Kansas and Oklahoma Replace 4 switches from 90# $182,119
Railroad Priority to #115 rail
Garden City Western Rehabilitation $307,513
Scoular Grain Goodland Siding extension $361,644
ADM Construction of new 2-mile loop track $90,000
MKC Elevator Construction of 120-car loop track $1,625,169
Dei-Fan Logistics New siding construction $642,526
Bestifor Farms Siding rehabilitation & expansion $664,756
Monarch Cement Construction of new siding $2,100,000
Midland Marketing Cooperative Siding rehabilitation $231,015
KYLE Rail replacement $1,440,000
New Century AirCenter Railroad Major rehabilitation/286K $849,900
###
This information can be made available in alternative accessible formats upon request. For information about obtaining an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, 700 SW Harrison St., 2nd Fl West, Topeka, KS 66603-3745 or phone 785-296-3585 (Voice)/Hearing Impaired – 711.