Media Kit » Try RailPrime™ Today! »
Progressive Railroading
Newsletter Sign Up
Stay updated on news, articles and information for the rail industry



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.




  railPrime
            View Current Digital Issue »



Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation

5/7/2012



Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation

USDOT signs off on Oklahoma DOT's TIGER III grant for track upgrades


advertisement

Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the signing of an agreement for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to receive a $6.75 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery III (TIGER III) grant to rehabilitate 49 miles of state-owned track between Elk City and Sayre, Okla. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) had initially announced in December 2011 that ODOT would be awarded the TIGER III grant for the $8.5 million project.

There are few viable options for transporting oil and gas from the Anadarko Basin, and the existing rail line in the region cannot meet current demand, USDOT officials said in a news brief. Upgrading the track to FRA Class II standards will reduce transportation costs, bring crude oil and gas to market faster, accommodate train speeds up to 25 mph and place fewer restrictions on the number of cars per train, they said.

Farmrail System Inc. operates the 49-mile line for ODOT. Improved track conditions will accommodate growing volumes of Anadarko Basin crude oil and lift limitations on moving hazardous commodities from truck-to-rail transloading sites in Sayre, according to Farmrail.