Supporting the Unsung Hero of Freight Transportation

The economic impact of our short line railroad industry is commonly underestimated. Because these lines only run for tens of miles instead of thousands of miles and employ a smaller number of workers, Americans often misunderstand just how important these systems are for our supply chain.

Acting as an irreplaceable bridge between larger, Class I Railroads and local manufacturing, agriculture, and other markets, short line rail is invaluable to ensuring the goods we produce right here in the Fourth District can be distributed efficiently to every corner of the country.

Arkansas’ Fourth District has more short line railroads than any other district in the country, making us a vital spoke in the wheel of commerce. Because of this, I have been proud to work diligently in Congress this year to ensure our short line railroads have the funding they need to operate more effectively and efficiently.

One of the best avenues to achieving this is through Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants. Short line railroads are eligible for these federal grants to modernize their infrastructure. By funding updates like railroad track rehabilitation and reconstruction, these grants directly improve the safety, performance, and reliability of our rail network.

Recently, my office was notified of three separate CRISI grants that have been awarded to our short line rail systems across the Fourth District.  Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the OmniTRAX location in Russellville, where I heard directly from their team just how much these CRISI grants will help secure safer transportation for Arkansas goods, better serve their surrounding communities, and keep our state’s supply chain running.

According to the Department of Transportation, two-thirds of rail freight originates in rural areas. To support the role Arkansas’ short line railroads play in our nation’s supply chain, and to support or rural communities, we must ensure they continue to receive the funding needed to maintain and modernize their infrastructure. It is such a great privilege to work in Washington on behalf of industries like these that work hard to keep Arkansas moving, and I look forward to continuing my efforts in the 120th Congress.