Ohio rail commission OKs funds for five projects

The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) recently approved state funds for five freight rail-related projects.

The commission will provide a $200,000 matching grant to Buckeye Industrial Mining Co. Ltd. to purchase rail loading/unloading conveyors and other equipment for a new bulk transload and coal blending facility in Wellsville. The $15 million facility is projected to handle 35,000 carloads annually.

ORDC also will provide a $350,000 grant and $350,000 loan package to the city of Jackson to rehabilitate a city-owned rail line operated by US Rail. The project calls for replacing a portion of the 8,500 ties and 13,000 tons of ballast needed to upgrade track to accommodate heavier loads.

Meanwhile, Appleton Papers Inc. will obtain a $50,000 grant to defray costs of a rail spur that will be built as part of a $100 million facility expansion in West Carrollton; Hydrodec North America L.L.C. will receive a $75,000 grant to help fund the purchase of a rail-car mover at its new Canton refinery; and the Lancaster Port Authority will obtain a $90,000 grant and $90,000 matching grant for a 1,600-foot rail spur on the Indiana & Ohio Railroad. The spur will serve a new U.S. Corrugated plant in Lancaster.

An independent Ohio Department of Transportation agency, ORDC oversees freight and passenger railroad issues, grade crossing safety, and rail travel and tourism.