(ND Ag Connection) – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, alongside Congressman Kelly Armstrong, recently revealed an allocation of almost $12 million in federal funds. This investment is earmarked for the development and enhancement of safe and efficient freight rail services in North Dakota, responding to the predicted expansion stemming from the newly established soybean crushing facility in Casselton.

The grant is destined for the Red River Valley and Western Railroad Company (RRVW), enabling them to make pivotal track improvements. These enhancements will accommodate an estimated increase in carloads of agricultural products, notably soybeans, in the region.

This financial boost will facilitate the upgrade of tracks between Casselton and Wahpeton to continuous welded rail, eliminating the need for lengthy detours or truck shipments of soybeans.

This move is part of a broader effort to expand the value-added agricultural economy in the state. With the inception of the Casselton plant, over 10,000 additional rail carloads per annum of soybeans and related products are anticipated on this line.

The grant, sourced from the Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, is pivotal for the safe and efficient transport of these and other agricultural products in the region, thereby contributing to the state’s economic growth.

This significant investment not only supports the agricultural sector but also underlines the importance of improving the short line railroad network in North Dakota. The state’s delegation played a key role in securing this grant, advocating for the necessity of this investment through correspondence with the Department of Transportation.

The awarded grant illustrates a collective commitment to fostering a robust and thriving agricultural landscape in North Dakota.