Minnesota DOT awards three grants for rail-service improvements

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) last week announced $1.55 million in funding for three projects aimed at improving freight-rail service.

The projects, which will receive funds from the Minnesota Rail Service Improvement program, are designed to help strengthen the state's shipping economy and assist companies that ship by rail to improve their operations, according to an MnDOT press release.

The recipients, their award amounts and projects are:
• the city of Becker, which received $1 million for Northern Metal Recycling to add a 7,000-foot rail spur to a new processing plant;
• Epitome Energy LLC, which obtained $450,000 for rail infrastructure for a new soybean processing and biodiesel facility; and
• Minnesota Commercial Railway, which was awarded $101,139 to replace a railroad bridge over Rice Creek in New Brighton.

MnDOT received nine applications totaling more than $4.5 million for rail service improvement projects. Projects selected were based on the impact of state dollars on rail service and economic development.

“The program is designed to rehabilitate deteriorating rail lines, improve rail-shipping opportunities and preserve and maintain abandoned rail corridors for future transportation uses,” said Peter Dahlberg, program manager of MnDOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations.