Kansas receives $49.5 million CRISI grant for rail project

TOPEKA - The Kansas Department of Transportation and KYLE Railroad Company announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $49.5 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (CRISI) discretionary grant to KYLE Railroad Company for the Unleashing the American Heartland Rail Upgrade Project.

The proposed project includes track rehabilitation and improvement in Kansas and Colorado. The project will install 115-pound continuous welded rail on approximately 56 miles of track, replace ties and switches, upgrade signals, and replace ballast as well as the installation of innovative detector technologies designed to proactively identify safety risks and reduce the likelihood of a mechanically caused derailment. KDOT provided matching funds for the project, which aims to enhance safety, improve system and service performance, and increase reliability, which will be accomplished by upgrading track to FRA Class 2 standards, increasing track speeds and enabling operational efficiencies.

"KYLE Railroad is proud to play an important role in supporting the Kansas economy while safely and efficiently moving freight across the state," said KYLE Railroad President Danny Dalton. "For years, KDOT has been a meaningful advocate and partner as we've upgraded the railroad across many different projects to the ultimate benefit of our customers.

"We're incredibly grateful for the matching funds from KDOT that helped make this project possible, as well as the support of our project partners, Phillips County and the City of Goodland. We also want to thank and recognize Senators Moran and Marshall, Congressman Mann, and the many other elected officials, cities, counties, and businesses that endorsed our application."

"KYLE Railroad has been a strong partner in maintaining and improving freight rail service across Kansas," said Kansas Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. "This federal award builds on that partnership and will help deliver safer, more reliable rail infrastructure that supports Kansas businesses and communities."

Land Rush Rail in Oklahoma also received a CRISI award totaling over $5 million for the Blackwell - Wellington Track Restoration Project that will create regional benefits impacting Kansas. KDOT also provided match funds to the project, which will rehabilitate approximately 37 miles of track between Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Wellington. The proposed improvements also include upgraded signals at five at-grade crossings.

"This is without a doubt a historic win for our entire region. This project will deliver critical infrastructure repairs needed to preserve, sustain, and modernize an important asset shared by Oklahoma and Kansas. The rail line is vital to supporting existing industries while creating new opportunities for business growth and attraction. These improvements will further strengthen the economic vitality and competitiveness of the Northern Oklahoma and Southern Kansas corridor for years to come, said the Land Rush Rail Corporation.

The federal CRISI grant program provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. For more details on the CRISI program, go to https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/consolidated-rail-infrastructure-and-safety-improvements-crisi-program.

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