On Tuesday, Governor Andy Beshear announced over $5.6 million in state grants for six Kentucky railway infrastructure improvement projects spanning seven counties.
Projects will improve commercial rail access, enhance safety, attract investment and create jobs for Kentuckians.
Funds were distributed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet through the Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvement program.
The Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvement grant program designates $7.5 million each fiscal year in 50/50 grants for railroad equipment, construction, reconstruction, improvement, or rehabilitation of rail facilities or engineering work associated with capital projects.
Funding will go toward construction of two new rail spurs to serve industrial parks and manufacturing facilities, replacement of culverts on a high-density Norfolk Southern line, expansion of on-site storage and loading capacity, and purchase of new equipment to improve efficiency and safety.
The recipients of the six awards are:
Eddyville Riverport & Industrial Development Authority, $526,581
Logan Aluminum, Inc., $1,217,250
Norfolk Southern, $499,000
Novelis Corporation, $1,875,000
Owensboro Riverport Authority, $441,245
Stainless Steel Acquisition Co. LLC, $1,053,500
The Logan Aluminum project will add 2,100 feet of track to establish rail access to the DC4 casting center in Logan County. The new access provides the final critical link needed for receipt of inbound raw materials by rail. In addition, the new railroad tracks will connect DC4 with the onsite ingot storage yard, allowing DC4’s production volume to be transported onsite via rail instead of trucks.
The announcement is part of an ongoing Team Kentucky commitment to rail safety and infrastructure improvement that includes projects funded by these programs, as well as a newly created grant opportunity known as the Kentucky Short-Line Infrastructure Preservation program.
Source: KYTC
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