The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) recently awarded 11 freight rail projects $9.6 million in Minnesota Rail Service Improvement program funding.
The funding was approved during the 2023 legislative special session and was awarded to projects that improve freight rail service and support economic development in different regions of the state.
“Improving Minnesota’s rail service gives local businesses more opportunities to compete in our global and national economy,” Kelly Christenson, MnDOT Freight and Rail Programs supervisor, said. “The increased number of grant applications we received this year demonstrates the importance of improving the freight rail infrastructure across the state.”
MnDOT received 19 applications requesting a total of $22.5 million for this round of funding.
Awardees include:
The Northern Country Co-op in Lansing was awarded $1.9 million to develop a unit train loading facility and install storage bins.
Minnesota Northern Railroad Co. in Crookston was awarded $1.56 million to develop land for an industrial park and innovation center. The project includes the installation of a turnout from the track to the site, a crossing to the spur, 2,478 feet of track and site preparation for an initial spur, and a bin storage.
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. in Watkins was awarded $1.5 million to install new railcar offloading stations.