FRANKFORT, Ky. — R.J. Corman Railroad Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $12.3 million Bluegrass Multimodal Freight Improvement Project on Wednesday, November 6, at the site of the company’s new rail yard in Frankfort.
It is the beginning of a transformative project aimed at enhancing the efficiency and capacity of freight transportation in the region. The Bluegrass Multimodal Freight Improvement Project is an initiative designed to modernize the railroad infrastructure of the R. J. Corman Central Kentucky Lines.
Over the next 20-30 years, the new transload facility in Frankfort and increased utilization of railroad shipping are expected to divert over 130,000 truckloads from interstate and local roads to rail. This change will significantly reduce congestion and improve road safety. The project is also expected to support jobs and commerce in the commonwealth.
This project is supported by a $7.4 million federal grant that is the first in Kentucky to be made by the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. R.J. Corman is providing matching funds of 40% of the total project cost, demonstrating its commitment to the project
The project encompasses several key components:
- construction of a rail-to-truck transload facility
- rehabilitation of track on the mainline between Frankfort and Lexington
- improvements to the main yard and transload facility in Lexington.
These enhancements are expected to significantly improve rail safety and efficiency while delivering substantial environmental and traffic-mitigation benefits
Speakers at the event highlighted the importance of the project and its expected impact on the region’s transportation infrastructure. They included April Colyer, Board of Trustees, Corman Railroad Group; Ed Quinn, president/CEO of Corman Railroad Group; and Rocky Adkins, Gov. Andy Beshear’s senior advisor.
Quinn expressed gratitude for the support from federal, state, and local partners, including U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S Reps. Andy Barr and Morgan McGarvey, Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray, state Reps. John Blanton, Ken Upchurch, Dan Fister, and Derrick Graham, the local governments of Lexington and Franklin County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, and many others such as Class I railroad partner CSX, business leaders and advocacy groups.
The Bluegrass Multimodal Freight Improvement Project is a testament to R.J. Corman’s commitment to enhancing the transportation infrastructure in Central Kentucky, company officials said. With the support of the CRISI grant and the dedication of R. J. Corman, this project is set to bring significant improvements to the region’s rail network, benefiting both the local economy and the broader transportation infrastructure
