For more information, contact:
Frank Huntington, WisDOT Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Railroads and Harbors
(608) 267-3710, frank.huntington@dot.wi.gov
Governor Jim Doyle today announced ten state awards totaling $30,596,082 that will be used to construct freight rail-related facilities, and preserve and upgrade rail infrastructure as part of overall efforts to support job growth and Wisconsin’s agricultural economy.
“Freight rail plays a critical role in Wisconsin’s transportation system, moving some 150 million tons of commodities every year,” Governor Doyle said. “These grants and loans will help retain jobs and spur economic growth in many rural communities while strengthening our agricultural economy.”
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is administering three loan awards totaling $3,382,944 through the Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (FRIIP). A revolving loan program, FRIIP awards are provided to private industries, railroads, and local governments to improve rail infrastructure, highway/grade crossings, and to construct new rail-served facilities – with the overall goal to boost economic development and jobs. As FRIIP loans are repaid, the dollars are used to help fund new projects. Most of the work on the recently approved FRIIP loan projects will begin this fall and continue in the spring of 2010.
Seven grant awards totaling $27,213,138 are being distributed through the state’s Freight Railroad Preservation Program (FRPP). FRPP grants cover up to 80 percent of the cost of projects designed to preserve rail service or rehabilitate fixed facilities on publicly owned rail lines. Award recipients provide the 20 percent local share.
Since the FRIIP program was approved by the Legislature in 1993, WisDOT has provided 93 loans through the program totaling over $100 million. Another $78 million in FRPP grants have been awarded to local governments and railroads since 1993. Twelve freight railroads operate in Wisconsin on a system of over 3,600 route miles of track and handle some 2.5 million rail cars each year.
Summaries of the loans and grants may be found at the DOT Web site http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/docs/friipfrrp09summary.pdf.
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NOTE: View this document on the Web at: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/index.htm.
