Short-line railroads ask committee to preserve $20 million annual Transportation Equity Fund for track and bridge repairs

Short-line railroad leaders asked the House Transportation Committee on March 4, 2025, to preserve and make recurring a $20 million annual allocation from the state's Transportation Equity Fund to maintain and rehabilitate short-line railroads across Tennessee.

JJ Hohorse, president of three Tennessee short lines (West Tennessee Railroad, TennKen Railroad, South Central Tennessee Railroad), and Dwayne Robinson, White County executive and chairman of the Tennessee Short Line Alliance, told the committee short lines serve as critical first-mile/last-mile connectors for agriculture, manufacturing and forestry customers in rural communities. Robinson said continuing the funding as a recurring annual allocation would allow short lines to plan multi-year rehabilitation and maintenance projects rather than "put Band Aids on things."

Presenters summarized recent investments: a 2021 state needs assessment found 41 percent of short-line miles carried weight restrictions and 31 percent met the FRA's lowest accepted track standard. Since the state allocated an $85 million, five‑year program, about 77 percent of those funds have been committed to completed or in‑progress projects, presenters said. They reported 28 of 89 bridges rated poor have been replaced, roughly 90,000 ties installed, and 16 miles of undersized rail replaced. Short-line representatives credited those state funds with helping secure federal grants — including a bridge replacement award of about $23 million and CRISI awards supporting roughly $55 million in additional federal projects to replace dozens of miles of rail and tens of thousands of ties.

Short-line witnesses warned that if state funding lapses, carriers may be unable to sustain heavier car weights and speeds required by current shippers; that can reduce industrial prospects, shift freight to trucks (increasing wear on roads), and ultimately risk abandonment of some lines where private revenue alone cannot cover maintenance. They asked the committee to continue the $20,000,000 annual allocation and to support TDOT in leveraging federal funds.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about ownership and operation models; witnesses said ownership schemes vary (some tracks are publicly owned with private operators), and short lines operate under a mix of private and public arrangements. No formal legislative motion accompanied the request during the hearing; presenters asked members to support continued funding to TDOT for short-line rehabilitation.