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1/16/2026
The Kansas Department of Transportation yesterday awarded $11.2 million in Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP) grants for 10 freight-rail projects across the state.
KDOT received 20 applications during the grant process with funding requests surpassing $23.4 million. The department selected the 10 projects that best support economic efficiency, sustainability and rail infrastructure needs across Kansas, KDOT officials said in a press release. When combined with local matches, the total rail infrastructure investment exceeds $16.5 million, which includes over $5.3 million in local matching funds.
Among the selected projects is a siding expansion for Watco's Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (K&O) that will accommodate increased carload traffic from the new $400 million GAF shingle production facility in Newton, Kansas. The facility is slated to begin operations in late 2026, KDOT officials said.
K&O will use $2,060,178 in RSIP funding to construct new siding tracks. The short line also plans to add six team members and two locomotives to accommodate the carload increase.
A list of the nine other grant recipients — which include six additional short lines — their awards and projects can be found here.