Public can provide input at open house in Fulton about 2024 Kentucky Statewide Rail Plan

FULTON, Ky. (KBSI) – A public open house in Fulton will give people that chance to provide input of the the 2024 Kentucky Statewide Rail Plan will help guide future rail service enhancements.

Transportation planners are completing a statewide analysis of freight and passenger rail in Kentucky.

The public is invited to provide feedback at meetings next week or online.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will host three in-person public open houses March 11-13:

• Monday, March 11, Fulton, Kentucky, at Pontotoc Park Community Center, 100 W. State Line St., from 4-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 12, Louisville, Kentucky, at Union Station, 1000 W. Broadway, from 4-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 13, Ashland, Kentucky, at the Ashland Transportation Center, 99 15th St., from 4-7 p.m.

The open house meetings will feature information about the Statewide Rail Plan and allow attendees to show how they use rail, how they want to use rail and how Kentucky should prioritize future rail needs. People can drop in at any time during each meeting’s three-hour schedule.

Attendees will be offered an electronic survey to provide feedback about future rail use and access.

An online survey will be available on the project website at kyrailplan.com for those unable to attend the in-person meetings.

“As a multimodal state, this plan has the potential to guide improvements to our passenger and freight rail system and enhance rail service that benefits everyone,” said Jeremy Edgeworth, KYTC freight, rail and waterways coordinator. “We value the input of community members and look forward to hearing their perspectives.”

The 2024 Kentucky Statewide Rail Plan provides a snapshot of current operations and opportunities to increase Kentucky’s economic growth and improve quality of life. The plan will be a resource for private railroad companies seeking to expand or enhance rail services through federal grant opportunities.

Work on the plan began in the fall of 2023. The KYTC team focused on understanding the current conditions of the passenger and freight rail network and conducted an infrastructure assessment. This level of analysis allowed local stakeholders and operators to understand the strengths and challenges the network is facing and to begin identifying future opportunities. During this phase, focus groups and key industry interviews were conducted to discuss and review initial findings.

The current and next phases will focus on gathering input from the public and development of the rail plan document. The plan will include information from the initial phases and identified rail needs, opportunities, potential investments and improvements for both passenger and freight networks.

Then rail plan will be finalized and reviewed by the KYTC for adoption and implementation next year.