FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION : FREIGHT RAILROADING

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The Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for FY 2002 (Public Law 107-87, December 18, 2001) was the first DOT appropriation to include funding for Section 330 projects. $144 million was appropriated and the Conference Report accompanying the appropriation identified 55 projects. FRA administered six projects valued at $11.75 million. In FY 2003 $671 million was appropriated and the accompanying Conference Report identified 353 Section 330 Projects. FRA is managing eight projects valued at $24 million.

Freight related projects follow and for passenger related projects go to the passenger project specific funding page.

Seward Coal Loading Facility (Seward, AK): The FY’03 appropriation is $9.5 million. Funds will allow the Alaska Railroad to purchase and upgrade facilities used to transfer coal from rail cars to ships. The facility is currently owned by the Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority and Hundai Merchant Marine (America) Inc. Coal from the Usibelli Coal Mine near Healy, AK (362 rail miles from Seward) is shipped to Seward where it is transferred to ships for export.

Southwest MN Regional Rail Rehabilitation Project: The FY’03 appropriation is $2.0 million. Funds will be used to resurface track, dispose of wood ties, complete drainage and culvert work, furnish and install 20,000 tons of ballast, and lay new and used rail (70 and 80 lbs.). The grant is managed by the Minnesota DOT and is part of a program to upgrade the lines of the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority.

Greenwood Rail Relocation: The FY’03 appropriation is $1.0 million. In FY’02 $2.0 million was appropriated. These funds will be used to build a new rail line (14,300 feet of Class 3 track) to connect two rail lines south of the town of Greenwood. MS. The new connection will end the interchange of traffic in downtown Greenwood and eliminate twelve at-grade crossings.

Umitilla Intermodal Facility: The FY’03 appropriation is $2.8 million. The Port of Umitilla is on the Columbia River 292 miles inland of Astoria. Docks and terminals exist at the facility for handling wheat, petroleum products and containerized freight. Agricultural products dominate export traffic. The Port has rail and highway access. The Federal appropriation will pay approximately two-thirds the cost of replacing a 63-year old crane used to transfer containers to and from barges. It is estimated that a large, modern gantry style crane will meet Port needs through 2050.

Aberdeen SD to Geneseo ND Rail Repairs: The FY’03 appropriation is $.65 million. Funds will be used to upgrade an existing rail line. Track materials, including ties, ballast and rail will be purchased and installed.

Pierre Rail Bypass: The FY’03 appropriation is $4.0 million. The main rail line of the DM&E railroad goes through the cities of Fort Pierre and Pierre SD. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved expansion of the DM&E to the Powder River Basin. When the line is built the number of daily coal trains through Fort Pierre and Pierre will increase to around 35. The Section 330 funds will fund an engineering study aimed at determining the feasibility of an alternative rail route that bypasses these two cities on the Missouri River.