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Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) recently approved five $5.5 Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (FRIIP) loans totaling $5.5 million, according to American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association's bi-monthly newsletter released Dec. 3.


Of the five loans, three will be issued to shippers planning to build grain-storage bins; one to a shipper planning to construct a 25-car siding and 1 million gallon liquid-fertilizer storage tank; and one to a shipper planning to build a 5,200-foot spur to handle 108 rail cars, six switches, dry-bulk feed storage, liquid-bulk storage and load-out facilities.


Wisconsin and Southern Railroad Corp. serves three of the shippers; Union Pacific Railroad serves the other two.


WisDOT awards FRIIP loans to private industries, railroads and local governments that plan to improve rail infrastructure or grade crossings, or construct new rail-served facilities.


Since Wisconsin's legislature approved the FRIIP program in 1993, WisDOT has issued 63 loans totaling $53.2 million.