Nearly $34 million in federal money will support railroad projects between Louisville, Paducah

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation will allocate nearly $34 million in federal funding to support several projects along the 280-mile railroad line connecting Paducah and Louisville.

U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said in a news release Thursday the money will go to Paducah and Louisville Transportation, helping the company upgrade signals and track infrastructure, install a wheel truing machine and rehabilitate five rail bridges in Hardin and Muhlenberg counties.

"P&L is excited to continue our work to rebuild critical freight railroad infrastructure," Tom Greene, chairman, president and CEO of P&L Transportation, said in a news release Thursday. "This project will benefit all Kentuckians by keeping employers in the Commonwealth connected to markets around the world. I want to especially thank Senator McConnell for all of his hard work to ensure that Kentucky infrastructure projects receive their fair share of funding. These projects and the funding announced today would not be possible without his support."

McConnell's office said the money came from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program, which "awards competitive grants for freight and highway projects." The P&L line, McConnell's office said, connects four major railroads and transported equipment for Kentucky's military institutions and materials used in manufacturing.

"As a transportation and logistics hub, Kentucky keeps millions of American goods and people on the move," McConnell said. "From strengthening our regional economy to facilitating interstate commerce nationwide, our rail infrastructure – and investments to sustain it – has benefits that ripple across the entire country. Projects like this one are precisely the reason I supported the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has delivered billions for Kentucky’s roads, ports, railroads, and waterways. I look forward to watching this much-needed investment spur development along the entire P&L corridor."

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