Fischer Applauds over $43M in Federal Investments for Nebraska Rail – KCSR / KBPY

Craig Wheeler & Matt Reed

Comes after Fischer urged DOT to grant funding

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) decision to award $43.2 in grants from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program to projects in Nebraska:

“Nebraska’s rail infrastructure supports our strong state economy and connects our world-class products to the rest of the country,” Fischer said. “These investments will modernize our rail system and provide much-needed safety improvements. As Nebraska’s senator, I’ll always support projects that directly benefit our state.”

Fischer wrote letters of support to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration David Fink for these projects.

These federal investments will be directed to three projects in Nebraska:

• The Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway’s (NKCR) Logistics Infrastructure to Fast-Track Exception Leveraging of the Imperial Nebraska Line (LIFELINE) project.
• The Nebraska Central Railroad Company’s (NCRC) Research and Development of AI-Predictive Technology for Safer Rail Infrastructure Nationwide project.
• The Omaha Public Power District’s (OPPD) Arbor Rail Line Enhancement Project.

LIFELINE Project

NKCR will receive $21,149,520 to rehabilitate the 49-mile Imperial Subdivision between Culbertson and Imperial, Nebraska, address critical track deficiencies, and restore the line to a state of good repair. The project will preserve the long-term viability of the line, with a comprehensive tie replacement program that will replace approximately 1,200 ties per mile.

OmniTRAX CEO Colby Tanner said, “Investments in rail infrastructure are investments in a durable American economy. We are thankful for Senator Fischer’s commitment to keep Nebraska’s infrastructure strong and for the CRISI funds that help us keep Nebraska’s supply chains moving for our nation.”

Research and Development of AI-Predictive Technology for Safer Rail Infrastructure Nationwide Project

NCRC will receive $14,888,433 to integrate multiple types of sensors into a single cloud-based platform to provide real-time monitoring, analytics, and predictive alerts. This will allow railroad personnel to identify developing infrastructure risks before they result in service disruptions, track failures, or derailments.

The Nebraska Central Railroad Company said, “Nebraska Central Railroad Company is thrilled to be a recipient of this CRISI grant and grateful for continued support of Sen. Fischer and the Federal Railroad Administration in securing safe, reliable transportation infrastructure. This investment will enable important research, field testing, and technology development that can help identify emerging track conditions earlier and strengthen rail safety. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver practical tools that can benefit short line railroads and the broader rail industry.”

Arbor Rail Line Enhancement Project

OPPD will receive $7,142,850 for rail infrastructure improvements along a 56.4-mile segment of track between Lincoln and Nebraska City, Nebraska. The project will harden and modernize the infrastructure of the Arbor Rail Line, improving its resilience to service disruptions while enhancing overall safety and reliability.

The Omaha Public Power District said, “We are grateful for the strong support from our federal delegation in securing this grant, which will help us strengthen the reliability and resilience of the Arbor Rail Line. We especially appreciate Senator Fischer’s ongoing leadership and partnership in ensuring Nebraska’s energy infrastructure remains dependable for the communities we serve.”