PIERRE, (KCCR) — Two railroads that service central South Dakota have been awarded Special Transportation Circumstance grants by the Federal Railroad Administration. The funds will be administered to the railroads by the South Dakota Department of Transportation. The Ringneck and Western Railroad is getting 10-point-three million dollars for their grade stabilization and Repair Project. That project includes the installation of approximately 31-thousand 600 railroad ties, 17-thousand tons of ballast rock, 44 miles of surfacing and the replacement of culverts and bridgework along the former Mitchell to Rapid City line along Interstate 90 Ringneck and Western is providing a 20-percent match. The Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern is getting just over 20-million dollars for a project to upgrade 16 miles or rail, replace or upgrade 34 structures, install new turnouts, perform surfacing, crossing improvements and ballast enhancement in the Upper Black Hills portion of their mainline.
