Governor Kelly Announces $11M for
Rail Service Improvement Projects
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that 10 rail service improvement projects across Kansas will receive a total of $11.2 million through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP).
“Investment in rail infrastructure is an investment into the economic success of the entire state,” Governor Laura Kellysaid. “Thanks to the Rail Service Improvement Program, we’re ensuring that all Kansans can benefit from efficient movement of goods throughout the state.”
The selected projects, located across 10 counties, enhance the state’s rail network by promoting economic efficiency, supporting sustainability, and addressing critical infrastructure needs. The $11.2 million award represents the program’s $10 million annual funding combined with $1.2 million in carryover funds and loan payments from past projects.
KDOT received 20 applications totaling more than $33.5 million in project costs, with funding requests surpassing $23.4 million. From this pool, 10 projects were selected for awards. When combined with local matches, the total rail infrastructure investment exceeds $16.5 million, which includes over $5.3 million in local matching funds.
“KDOT’s Rail Service Improvement Program represents a true public-private partnership in enhancing Kansas’ rail network,” said Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “The demand for the program and the projects it supports is evident, with KDOT receiving applications for twice as much funding than available.”
Among the selected projects is the Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad’s Siding Expansion Project, which will accommodate a projected increase of 8,000 carloads from the new $400 million GAF shingle production facility in Newton. The facility is scheduled to be operational in late 2026.The new siding tracks will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and provide a staging ground for all Newton traffic. Six team members and two locomotives are expected to be added to accommodate the increase in volume.
The selected 2026 RSIP projects are below:
Sponsor
Project Title
County
Award
Cimarron Valley Railroad
Hugoton Capacity Expansion Project
Stevens
$2,556,238
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad
KO Newton GAF Siding Expansion
Harvey
$2,060,178
Kyle Railroad
Kyle Yuma Subdivision Rail Upgrade Project, Phase III
Cloud
$1,671,566
V & S Railway
V & S Railway Bridge Maintenance
Barber/Harper
$1,025,017
South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad
SKOL Chanute Yard Track Upgrade
Neosho
$716,274
Garden City Western Railway
GCW West Line-Main Track Upgrades, Phase II
Finney
$420,000
Land Rush Rail
Land Rush Rail – Emergency Repairs
Sumner
$323,583
Ardent Mills
Ardent Mills Rail Expansion Project
Sedgwick
$1,509,900
Bartlett – Montgomery County
Product Loadout Track Extension
Montgomery
$787,298
Kanza Cooperative Association
Kanza Coop – Andale Rail Project
Sedgwick
$118,364
10 Projects Total
$11,188,418
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One thought on “KS Rail Service Improvements Announced”
I would like to see the east bound section of hwy 54 extended instead turning south on 69 hwy and shunted onto Wall St with a railway crossing that bottlenecks the traffic onto 3rd St, with a low underpass. I have lived in Fort Scott 5 years now and certain times of day, the truck traffic can be delayed 30 minutes to an hour. About 3-3:30, the traffic at the grade school bottlenecks the traffic as parents stop to pick up their children, only to find them selves caught in the traffic trying to get past the train blocking hwy 54. Then the traffic light at 3rd & 69 is not programmed properly to keep the traffic flowing off 3rd St onto hwy 69.
Extending hwy 54 north of Fort Scott with an overpass over the railway and the river would enhance the flow of traffic. Currently hwy 54 comes to a “T” at 69 and does a dog leg south to Wall St (past our scenic and historical Fort) and right into the bottleneck at Wall and hwy 69. I would appreciate your cosideration of this overpass.
I am aware that the city is talking about an overpass 2-3 miles of the hwy 54 crossing, but that does not benefit the traffic flow from Nevada MO to Iola KS on hwy 54. If they build that overpass, it would benefit traffic at the industrial park, but it does not address the real problem at the Wall St railway crossing.
I would like to see the east bound section of hwy 54 extended instead turning south on 69 hwy and shunted onto Wall St with a railway crossing that bottlenecks the traffic onto 3rd St, with a low underpass. I have lived in Fort Scott 5 years now and certain times of day, the truck traffic can be delayed 30 minutes to an hour. About 3-3:30, the traffic at the grade school bottlenecks the traffic as parents stop to pick up their children, only to find them selves caught in the traffic trying to get past the train blocking hwy 54. Then the traffic light at 3rd & 69 is not programmed properly to keep the traffic flowing off 3rd St onto hwy 69.
Extending hwy 54 north of Fort Scott with an overpass over the railway and the river would enhance the flow of traffic. Currently hwy 54 comes to a “T” at 69 and does a dog leg south to Wall St (past our scenic and historical Fort) and right into the bottleneck at Wall and hwy 69. I would appreciate your cosideration of this overpass.
I am aware that the city is talking about an overpass 2-3 miles of the hwy 54 crossing, but that does not benefit the traffic flow from Nevada MO to Iola KS on hwy 54. If they build that overpass, it would benefit traffic at the industrial park, but it does not address the real problem at the Wall St railway crossing.