FEDERAL GRANTS AWARDED FOR RAIL PROJECTS
For Immediate Release: Monday, March 23, 2020
Contact: Kristi Sandal, Public Information Officer, 605.773.3265; Kristi.sandal@state.sd.us
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation has learned that four grant requests have been approved to receive Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant awards.
The awards come from the Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) Grant Program which is program under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRIS) Program and the Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program.
The State Railroad Board approved grants requests applications on the following projects for use of the federal STC funds available to South Dakota.
Grant funds were awarded as follows:
- Sisseton Milbank Railroad Lake Farley Bridge Replacement (up to $1,549,848)
- Dakota and Iowa Railroad Main Line Rail Replacement and Crossing Improvement Project (up to $3,992,758)
- Belle Fourche Industrial and Rail Park (up to $1,917,710)
- Ellis and Eastern Sioux Falls Area Bridges (up to $3,919,840)
“The STC funds are dedicated to three states, South Dakota, Wyoming and Alaska, that do not have passenger rail (Amtrak),” says Joel Jundt, Transportation Deputy Secretary. “These special federal funds are dedicated to rail projects within these states and these funds give us important financial resources to improve the state’s railroad infrastructure which is vital to shippers, rail companies and citizens.”
While these grants are non-competitive, the SDDOT needs to ensure the projects meet eligibility requirements with FRA. The SDDOT will be responsible to administer the grants and oversee the work. Each grant is funding with a maximum federal amount not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of a project. The required 20 percent non-Federal match amount is being paid by the respective private entity requesting grant funds.
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