Two northern Indiana railroad improvement projects have been selected for federal funding through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program.
The Northwest Indiana Rail Connectivity and Expansion Project, which is led by Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad, was selected to receive up to $6.8 million in federal funding.
The project will include improvements to rail infrastructure in Hanna, La Crosse, and Wellsboro, and will see work such as replacing railroad ties, rehabilitating freight rail bridges, improving railroad crossings, and constructing approximately one mile of new siding.
The improvements will help address aging infrastructure, limited storage capacity, and other operational challenges. Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad will contribute 30 percent of the project’s costs.
Another project involving the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad was selected for up to $2.8 million in federal funding.
That project includes track rehabilitation in northern Indiana and northeastern Illinois, including replacing railroad ties, rehabilitating switches, and upgrading four railroad crossings.
The improvements are intended to reduce emergency maintenance needs and improve service reliability. The railroad will contribute 40 percent of the project’s costs.
