HUMBOLDT — Monarch Cement began construction this week on a much-anticipated railroad expansion project south of its main plant.
The project is partially financed by a $2.1 million state transportation grant awarded in 2022.
Once completed, the expansion is projected to eliminate approximately 2,800 truckloads of deliveries annually.
“This project will help bring in larger units,” said Kent Webber, Monarch president. He attributed the driving force behind the initiative to Watco, a transportation company in Pittsburg that serves as Monarch’s partner for the project. Watco owns the portion of the railroad being updated.
Watco is providing project management, engineering, surveying and designing for the project.
Heartland Rail is the contractor doing the rail work. The approximately $5.5 million project consists of 5,506 feet of new track; 1,000 feet of track rehabilitation; crossing and signal rehabilitation; and installation of new railcar unloading station.
The renovated railroad line is expected to reduce the need for truck traffic by allowing Monarch to move more materials by rail.
The transportation grant is one of 17 distributed to short line railroad projects throughout Kansas, for a total of $11.5 million in funding.
Monarch received the largest award. Under the terms of the grant, recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 40% towards project costs. With those contributions, thXe total investment in rail projects will be $19 million.
These grant funds, made available to short-line railroads, shippers, and other qualifying entities, will be used for significant track rehabilitation and capacity improvement projects. Funds may also be used for financing and acquisition activities and the purchase of rolling stock.
Governor Laura Kelly announced the grant awards in May 2022. The projects — the majority of which are in western and southern Kansas — will be funded through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s State Rail Service Improvement Fund (SRSIF). The fund has invested more than $57 million in the rail network system to improve 1,800 miles of track.
The SRSIF is part of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). Since IKE was founded in 2019, it has awarded nearly $50 million in grants and matching community contributions to 26 improvement projects.
“Kansas’ railroad industry is vital to the state’s economy and the nation’s supply chain system,” Gov. Kelly said at the time. “This $11.5 million investment will modernize our rail network, strengthen our position as a national logistics hub, and enable farmers and ranchers to get their products to market faster.”
