Rep. Lauren Boebert Supports San Luis Central Railroad’s Infrastructure Grant Application
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert wrote a letter in strong support of the San Luis Central Railroad Company’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) competitive grant application.
Rep. Boebert said, “A CRISI grant will help the San Luis Central Railroad Company fund important infrastructure improvements necessary to reduce the risk of derailment, decrease maintenance costs, and increase overall efficiency. The railroad provides critical services for the San Luis Valley’s agriculture-based economy and agriculture is the lifeblood of the San Luis Valley. I am proud to stand with the San Luis Valley Central Railroad, the farmers and ranchers who depend on it, and with southern Colorado’s agricultural community.”
Background:
On February 23, Rep. Boebert visited the San Luis Central Railroad and met with local stakeholders that will be impacted by the grant.
The San Luis Central Railroad applied for a competitive grant from the Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. The San Luis Central Railroad will use the grant to replace 5.1 miles of cross and switch ties in order to improve safety and reduce the risk of derailment.
CRISI grants are public-private partnerships that require a 25% private matching investment. The San Luis Central Railroad has substantial local support and will provide a $375,000 private sector match if awarded this grant.
The San Luis Central Railroad has been serving the San Luis Valley for 109 years of continuous service. The San Luis Central Railroad is integral to the San Luis Valley’s nearly $1 billion agricultural economy that supports 28.3% of local jobs. In 2017, the railroad transported upwards of 75 million pounds of potatoes and 82 million pounds of grain.
The full text of Rep. Boebert’s letter is available here and below:
I write in strong support of the San Luis Central Railroad Company’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) competitive grant application. As you know, CRISI funding requires a 25% private match and provides discretionary, competitive grants for important projects based on merit that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight rail.
Should the railroad be awarded this competitive grant, the company plans to complete an important project that will improve short line railroad infrastructure in the San Luis Valley. Specifically, the project will replace 5.1 miles of deteriorated cross and switch ties between Ansel and Center stations in Rio Grande and Saguache Counties in order to improve safety and reduce the risk of derailment, decrease maintenance costs, and increase overall service reliability.
This San Luis Central Railroad Company has strong project readiness and possesses the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out this project on time and on budget. Importantly, the project also has local support and nearly $375,000 will come from private sector matching funds.
The completion of this project will enable the railroad to better serve the agriculture-based economy and retain its present workforce throughout the San Luis Valley. In 2017 alone, the railroad transported more than 75 million pounds of fresh and dried potatoes and more than 82 million pounds of grain.
Class III railroads are vital to rural America and the regions they serve. This project is essential for the future economic viability of the San Luis Valley and this grant application has my strong support. I respectfully urge your full and fair consideration.