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Committee approves short-line rail priority list; DOTD cites $3 million program and six new projects
Summary
The joint committee approved the Class 2 and 3 short-line rail infrastructure priority list; DOTD said the program, created in 2023, adds six new projects and has roughly $3 million available in funding.
The Joint Committee on Transportation on March 24 approved DOTD’s recommended priority list for the Class 2 and 3 short-line rail infrastructure improvement program, which DOTD said carries roughly $3,000,000 in available funding and includes six new projects added since 2023.
Julia Fisher Cormier, commissioner of the Office of Multimodal Commerce, described the short-line rail program as limited to short-line operators: “So these again are all benefits only specifically to short lines. They are the only ones that can apply for this. So no ports, no class ones, only for short line.” She said the program originated in 2023 and that the current list brings the total on the priority list to 14 projects.
Why it matters: Short-line rail plays a targeted role in connecting local industry to mainline networks; DOTD presented the program as a narrow, rail-specific benefit that supports state freight connectivity. The committee adopted the recommended list by voice vote after Senator Price moved approval.
Details: Cormier said there are six new projects on the most recent list and that the program receives about $3,000,000 in funding “at your pleasure.” The committee recorded no objections when the motion was called.
Ending: With approval recorded, DOTD will proceed with the priority list as adopted; the committee did not request additional changes or a line-item discussion during this session.
