FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 30, 1998
Contact: James E. Gower
Telephone: 202-632-3124
FRA 13-98
FRA Awards $650,000 to South Dakota To
Repair
Railroad Track Damaged in Spring Flooding
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced the award of $650,000 in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) emergency relief funds to South Dakota to repair track damaged by floods last spring.
"Safety is President Clinton’s highest transportation priority, and these funds will help ensure that South Dakota’s railroads are safe after devastating floods," Secretary Slater said. "By repairing flood damaged railroads, we enable goods to continue to flow safely across America."
Because of the severity of continued flooding affecting the nation’s transportation system, President Clinton signed on May 1 the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations Act which includes $9.8 million to repair flood-damaged shortline and regional railroads. A total of $18.9 million was appropriated last year for the same purpose. South Dakota is one of the first states to submit a request for the current funding.
South Dakota has been granted a total of $8.4 million, including the additional funds announced today, to repair small railroad track damaged by the 1997 spring floods. In approving the grant, FRA Administrator Jolene M. Molitoris applauded the South Dakota Department of Transportation and South Dakota Transportation Secretary Ronald W. Wheeler for their continued leadership in addressing the the needs of their shippers and railroads.
The funds will be used to complete the rebuilding of the following shortline and regional railroads which operate on state owned track:
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