WASHINGTON (KFGO) – Federal officials have awarded more than $24 million in rail infrastructure grants to North Dakota, with the vast majority directed toward upgrading aging track in the Red River Valley, Sen. John Hoeven has announced.
The Red River Valley & Western Railroad will receive $23.6 million from the Federal Railroad Administration through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program. The funding will cover the replacement of roughly 26 miles of rail and finance the construction of a new rail siding near Wahpeton to improve operating efficiency and safety.
In addition, Bottineau County was awarded $690,825 through the same federal program. Those funds will support local crossing improvements near a school zone and help expand area grain-handling capacity.
Hoeven, who led the state’s congressional delegation in backing the railroad’s application earlier this year, highlighted the economic role rail networks play across the region.
“These investments will help improve rail safety, increase efficiency and strengthen North Dakota’s transportation infrastructure,” Hoeven said in a statement. “Reliable rail service is essential to getting our agricultural and energy products to market, and these projects will help support our producers, businesses and communities across the state.”
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