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1/9/2026
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear yesterday announced the award of $3 million in state grants for railroad safety and infrastructure improvement projects.
Awarded through two programs administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the grant funds were awarded to railroads and local governments to finance nine projects for industrial access and railway infrastructure improvement in seven counties. Projects will address rail line expansion and access road construction, as well as signal and lighting upgrades at public crossings, according to a press release issued by Beshear's office.
The Kentucky Rail Crossing Improvement (KRCI) program covers up to 80% of eligible project costs to improve safety and traffic flow at public rail crossings by adding or upgrading warning devices. The Kentucky Industrial Access and Safety Improvements (KIASI) program, operated in collaboration with the Cabinet for Economic Development, provides 50% matching funds for projects that strengthen rail connectivity, improve service to existing industries, enhance on-time performance and support economic development and new investment.
The KRCI grants, totaling $1.6 million, were awarded to three railroad companies — Paducah and Louisville Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway and R.J. Corman Railroad Co. — and the Bourbon County fiscal court for projects in Central and Western Kentucky.
Improvements range from signal and light enhancements at crossings to adding raised curb medians with delineators to improve traffic flow. Paducah and Louisville Railway was awarded a total of $776,831 in funding to enhance safety and reliability at three key crossings in Hardin and Grayson counties.
The two KIASI projects, totaling $1.4 million, will rehabilitate and reactivate 6,400 feet of track in Jefferson County; and the Owensboro Riverport Authority will use the funds to pave 26,500 square feet of asphalt for an access road and pour 41,700 square feet of concrete for an area designated for storage, loading and unloading rail cars.
The Owensboro Riverport received $1.12 million to construct an access road and an additional storage and loading area for trucks. Since first taking office in 2019, the Beshear administration has awarded $10.2 million in KRCI funds and $13.6 million in KIASI funds.