Gallagher Announces More Than $60 Million in Federal Funding for Yreka Western Railroad
Major investment will improve rail safety and strengthen transportation infrastructure in Siskiyou County
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman James Gallagher (CA-01) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected the Yreka Western Railroad Rehabilitation Project in Siskiyou County to receive more than $60.2 million in federal funding to modernize critical rail infrastructure connecting Yreka and Montague.
The funding, awarded through the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, will support the rehabilitation of approximately 8.5 miles of railroad track, improving safety and reliability along the line.
“Rural communities like Yreka and Montague deserve safe, reliable infrastructure that supports their local economies,” said Congressman Gallagher. “This is a major investment in Siskiyou County that will help bring aging railroad infrastructure up to modern standards and strengthen the transportation network our communities depend on. I'm pleased to see these federal dollars coming back to the North State.”
The project will replace aging rails and railroad ties, upgrade track foundations, and make improvements to bridges and nine railroad crossings. These upgrades will bring the line from Federal Railroad Administration Excepted Track status to Class 2 standards, allowing it to accommodate railcars weighing up to 286,000 pounds.
The federal grant totals $60,230,094, with Yreka Western Railroad providing a 25 percent non-federal cost share. The project was selected for funding covering project development, final design, and construction.
The investment is part of a federal program focused on improving railroad safety and reliability, with dedicated support for infrastructure projects in rural communities.