The

Connecticut Department of Transportation

(CTDOT) yesterday awarded $20 million in state grants  to fund safety, expansion and reliability projects on six railroads.

The grants are supplemented with nearly $4 million in private funding from the railroads, according to a CTDOT press release.

"Improving the state’s freight-rail infrastructure is a critical component of strengthening Connecticut’s economy," said CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. "Investments in freight rail make the supply chain more resilient, create jobs, and establish a strong system for future commerce,"

The following railroads received grants:

Providence and Worcester Railroad

(P&W), a Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) subsidiary, will use $4,911,520 to replace rail on its Wethersfield secondary line to support loaded rail cars up to 286,000 pounds. P&W will also replace four grade crossing surfaces in Wethersfield and replace ties and switch ties with ballast and surfacing.

Naugatuck Railroad

(NAUG) was allotted $4,571,673 to fund the replacement of four grade crossing surfaces in Torrington and upgrade two crossing signals. NAUG will also replace worn rail, install new ties and switch ties, construct a new customer turnout and public track turnout, add car storage tracks and replace bridge ties.

Connecticut Southern Railroad

, a G&W subsidiary, received $4,463,668 to complete structural repair on the Connecticut River Freight Bridge, replace four grade crossing surfaces in East Hartford, update infrastructure in its Hartford yard to improve switching operations and replace rail in Wethersfield.

Housatonic Railroad Co.

will use grant funding of $2,636,382 to replace grade crossing surfaces in New Milford and deteriorated ties along tje corridor.

Pan Am Southern,

operated by G&W's Berkshire & Eastern Railroad, was awarded $1,853,047 to replace rail and bridge ties, upgrade grade crossing warning devices and improve turnouts.

And the

New England Central Railroad

, a G&W subsidiary, received $1,563,689 to improve grade crossings in Franklin and Windham, relocate signal infrastructure, replace worn rail and complete bridge tie and structural repairs.

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