The South Dakota Department of Transportation has completed a draft of the South Dakota State Rail Plan and Rail Investment Guide (SRP/RIG) and is hosting a workshop this afternoon (June 15, 2022) to review plan information and gather input prior to the completion of the plan. The SRP/RIG will be held from 3-5pm CT in the Becker-Hansen Building, Room B15 (700 E. Broadway Ave.) in Pierre. DOT officials will describe the state’s vision, goals and objectives related to rail transportation.
Individuals may also request a call-in number for the workshop by emailing Misty Siedschlaw at misty.siedschlaw@state.sd.us.
In addition to the in-person workshop noted above, an online, self-guided meeting will be available from June 15-July 15, 2022. Individuals who are unable to attend the workshop are encouraged to participate in the online meeting, which can be found at www.SouthDakotaSRP.com.
The SRP/RIG will describe the state’s vision, goals, and objectives related to rail transportation for the next four years and beyond. The SRP will document the current role of rail in South Dakota and the institutional governance structure of the state’s rail programs; inventory the state’s existing rail lines and assets; illustrate the safety, environmental, and economic impacts of rail; determine current rail needs and issues; evaluate the potential for future passenger rail service implementation; list the projects and studies needed to achieve the state’s rail vision and identify potential funding sources for rail projects.
The SRP will be submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration, pursuant to expectations established in 49 USC 227 and Section 11315 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015. The RIG will establish asset management strategies and analyze the continued feasibility of maintaining State-owned rail assets.
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