Governor Jim Doyle today announced state awards that will be used to construct freight rail-related facilities, and preserve and upgrade rail infrastructure as part of overall efforts to support job growth and Wisconsin’s agricultural economy.  ....

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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is administering seven grant awards totaling $27,213,138 to be distributed through the state’s Freight Railroad Preservation Program (FRPP).  Locally a $1,001,008 grant is being made to the Wisconsin West Rail Transit Authority to fully fund planned rehabilitation on the Cameron to Barron and Cameron to Rice Lake lines in Barron County.  This is in addition to the $ 3,136,760 awarded for this project in state Fiscal Year 2009.  The 20 percent match will be provided with federal and local funds.  WisDOT and the Transit Authority plan to complete the acquisition of this Canadian National Railroad line early next year.  Rehabilitation work is expected to begin in the spring of 2010.....

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The WWRTA was formed in 2001 to preserve and strengthen rail service in the region. Their goals are to increase total railcar volume on the two branch lines currently owned by Union Pacific (UP) and Canadian National (CN) and to rehabilitate the track in Chippewa and Barron counties. The transit authority’s efforts helped bring short-line operator Progressive Rail to Wisconsin. Since November 2004, Progressive Rail had provided freight rail service as the Wisconsin Northern Railroad and leases and operates the UP line between Cameron and Norma and the CN line in Barron County. ....