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Soybean Processing Plant Leads To Upgrade in Rail Infrastructure

 

A $27 million dollar grant will help modernize South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad. This is a direct result of the addition of the Bartlett Grain soybean processing plant, as the upgrades are necessary to the 239 miles of the 433-mile network because it will allow customers like Bartlett and inevitably others to be able to connect to the major rail companies, known as class 1 carriers. They include the Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and the Kansas City Southern.

The grant was awarded to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for use on the SKOL project, with matching funds from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). In addition to the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) funding, $12.7 million is being contributed by Watco/SKOL, $1 million by KDOT, and $450,000 by ODOT, which brings the total to more than $40 million.

Senator Jerry Moran was at the Cherryvale Depot yesterday to recognize the beginning of the construction of the project. Moran played a crucial role in obtaining the funding by promoting it and penning a letter of support to the Federal Railroad Administration.

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