Milwaukee allocates $500,000 for rail upgrades at city's port

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett yesterday announced the city plans to provide $500,000 in 2014 for rail improvements at the Port of Milwaukee.

The multi-year projects will include upgrading 17 miles of track at the port, which is served by Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad. The $500,000 will cover a portion of the planned work.

So far this year, the port has handled various bulk cargo, such as salt, grain and coal, totaling hundreds of thousands of tons. Other freight has included a mining shovel destined for western Mexico, large beer brewing tanks headed to southcentral Wisconsin and oversized electrical transformers carried though the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Barrett also approved plans to fund the replacement one of the port's large cranes.

"With these new investments, we are continuing to provide transportation services that help local businesses reach their worldwide markets," he said in a press release.