McConnell Announces Over $38 Million in Federal Funding for Kentucky’s Railroads

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $32,183,290 to R.J. Corman Railroad Group and $6,492,000 to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad Company (LIRC) through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.

R.J. Corman will use today's award to rehabilitate tracks across multiple rail lines in Central and Western Kentucky, enhancing the efficiency and timeliness of its rail operations. The federal funding awarded to LIRC will support critical repairs to Clagg Bridge, an important rail bridge traversing the Ohio River between Louisville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Indiana that services both rail and waterway traffic.

Today's awards are funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as well as annual appropriations from Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2024. Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, contacted the U.S. Secretary of Transpiration in support of both railways' competitive grant applications and advocated for CRISI funding in both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the annual appropriations process.

"As a transportation and logistics hub, Kentucky's railroads have been the linchpin of economic growth for generations of workers and job creators in the Commonwealth. The grants announced today will increase the speed, efficiency, and safety on two of Kentucky's keystone rail operations, improvements that support good jobs and commerce across our state. I supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law precisely for projects like these, and I'll continue to be a fierce advocate for Kentucky's railroads, riverports, and waterways in years to come," said Senator McConnell.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Federal Railroad Administration for this grant, as well as to Senator McConnell officials and communities that supported this initiative. This partnership with R. J. Corman and Logan Aluminum underscores the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors. By leveraging federal infrastructure dollars alongside private investment, we are maximizing economic development opportunities for rail infrastructure in Kentucky. These enhancements will not only strengthen our ability to serve our customers but will also benefit a range of manufacturing companies and industries in central Kentucky. By improving the transportation of key commodities-such as agricultural products, automotive components, and raw materials-this project will bolster the region's economy, expand market access, and enhance the overall efficiency of our supply chain," saidR. J. Corman Railroad Group President and CEO Ed Quinn.

"The Louisville & Indiana Railroad is grateful for this award which will ensure that our 100-year-old lift span bridge over the Ohio River will remain a key component for our country's economy for the next 100 years. I would like to thank everyone that made this happen with a special thanks to Senator McConnell whose support is greatly appreciated," said LIRC President John Goldman.

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