Just over seven million dollars in Federal funding is coming to R.J. Corman Central Kentucky Lines. The freight railroad system carries more than 17,000 carloads per year. Part of the grant will go to support a new freight rail to truck transload facility just outside Frankfort. Funds will also be used for improvements at the existing main yard and transload facility in Lexington.
Kentuckians for Better Transportation Director Jennifer Kirchner said a change in delivery cargo could help ease lingering supply chain issues.
“If you could have something that could sit a little bit longer, could hat move to trains? And take that burden from trucks. Time-sensitive things maybe would go on trucks and something that could wait a little bit longer would switch to rail,” said Kirchner.
Kirchner said there are environmental benefits to additional rail transport. She noted the moving of freight by train creates the smallest carbon footprint when compared to other transportation modes. The KFBT director added future economic progress comes through a multi-modal approach.
“I think it’s more complicated than just laying more rail track. I think it’s more about how these different modes are going to work together. And what does that final mile of delivery look like for people,” said Kirchner.
Kirchner said the new Frankfort facility will open up rail as an option to producers not on a rail line.