Senator Tom Harkin Announces Over $9.5 Million To Repair Damaged Railroads In Iowa

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that almost half of the $20 million appropriated nationally for repairs and rehabilitation of railroad infrastructure damaged during natural disasters will go to Iowa. $9,599,243 will go to the Iowa Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Railroad Rehabilitation and Repair Program to reimburse short line and regional railroads for three projects in the state. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Subcommittee that funds transportation initiatives.

“Just about one year ago, devastating floods hit Iowa causing destruction across our state, including severe damage to our railway system,” said Harkin. “These small railroads are crucial to the safe and efficient movement of goods between Iowa communities and to places outside of our state, as well as critical to growing our economy and keeping Iowa vibrant. I am very pleased that the Federal Railroad Administration recognized our needs and granted us a lion’s share of these funds.”

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The projects are as follows:

• Flood damage restoration to rebuild a bridge and repair signals on the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway $6,965,163

• Flood damage restoration for the Keokuk Junction Railway Yard $459,200

• Replacement of the Waterloo Bridge over the Cedar River for the Iowa Northern Railway $2,174,880

This is from an allocation of the first $15 million that will be distributed. $5 million more will be distributed at a later date.

Source: Senator Tom Harkin