FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky is awarding more than $3.6 million in state grants under two programs to help fund rail infrastructure projects.
The grants, announced Thursday, April 10, include more than $2 million under the Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvements program, which provides 50% of funding for construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of rail lines, or engineering related to capital projects. Another $1.6 million is being awarded under the Kentucky Railway Crossing Improvement program, which provides up to 80% of project costs.
“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,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a press release. Said state Transportation Secretary Jim Gray, “These upgrades ensure that railroad crossings in Kentucky are safer for drivers to navigate, thereby contributing to the health and well-being of our families.”
Under the first program, Norfolk Southern received a total of $605,000 for five track stabilization projects across four counties, while Pittsburgh Glass Works of Berea, Ky., will receive more than $1.4 million to construct a new 580-foot spur to connect to CSX Transportation.
Awards under the grade crossing program include just over $207,000 to NS for four projects, and almost $1.4 million to the Paducah & Louisville Railway for five projects.
