This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
1/16/2024
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is soliciting public input on a plan for future investments in freight- and passenger-rail infrastructure and services.
The plan will be used to position the state for competitive railroad funding opportunities, ARDOT officials said in a press release. Members of the public can offer comments by reviewing an online presentation and then completing a survey — available here — by Feb. 13.
Railroads are an essential component of the state’s multimodal freight transportation system, ARDOT officials say in the presentation, which is available here.
Located between the major freight centers of Dallas and Memphis, railroads in Arkansas move freight from East and West Coast markets. Meanwhile, passenger-rail service is provided by Amtrak's long-distance Texas Eagle route.
Although ARDOT does not finance, own, operate or maintain any rail infrastructure or services, the Highways and Transportation Act of 1977 requires the department to develop a state rail plan.