Jackson Purchase News

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has announced federal funding exceeding $38 million for Kentucky's railroads. The U.S. Department of Transportation will allocate $32,183,290 to the R.J. Corman Railroad Group and $6,492,000 to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad Company (LIRC) through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.

R.J. Corman plans to use the funds to rehabilitate tracks across various rail lines in Central and Western Kentucky, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and timeliness. LIRC's allocation will support essential repairs to Clagg Bridge, a critical rail bridge over the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Indiana.

The awards are financed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act alongside annual appropriations from Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. Senator McConnell advocated for CRISI funding within both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the annual appropriations process.

"As a transportation and logistics hub, Kentucky’s railroads have been the linchpin of economic growth for generations of workers and job creators in the Commonwealth," said Senator McConnell. "The grants announced today will increase the speed, efficiency, and safety on two of Kentucky’s keystone rail operations."

Ed Quinn, President and CEO of R.J. Corman Railroad Group stated: "We are incredibly grateful to the Federal Railroad Administration for this grant... By leveraging federal infrastructure dollars alongside private investment, we are maximizing economic development opportunities for rail infrastructure in Kentucky."

John Goldman, President of LIRC added: "The Louisville & Indiana Railroad is grateful for this award which will ensure that our 100-year-old lift span bridge over the Ohio River will remain a key component for our country's economy for the next 100 years."