DRIVING THE NEWS: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Delivers $250 Million Investment to Strengthen Alaskan Rai

PALMER, AK – U.S. Transportation Sean P. Duffy and Federal Railroad Administrator (FRA) David Fink joined Governor Mike Dunleavy, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich in Palmer, Alaska, to announce a federal investment of nearly $250 million into Alaskan rail. The investment, funded by FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program, was awarded to the Alaska Railroad Corporation to construct a new 32-mile rail line connecting Port MacKenzie to Alaska Railroad’s mainline. The rail line will support the movement of Alaska's vast mineral and energy resources.

Once complete, the new line will also:

• Enhance the safety of Alaska’s rail infrastructure 
• Improve system and service performance to reduce delays
• Reduce the distance to the Port from Interior Alaska helping to transport of freight
• Reduce shipping times and expenses

“Alaska is America’s natural resource powerhouse, but the state needs strong infrastructure to get those resources from point A to point B safely, reliably, and efficiently,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Thanks to President Trump and the entire Alaska delegation, we’re building a massive new rail supply line that will power the energy and critical mineral projects of the future. This landmark investment will generate an economic boom for the region, unleash American energy dominance, and enhance our national security.”

"This is a major win for the Mat-Su Borough and our entire state, and another important step toward unlocking Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “Alaska has enormous deposits of critical minerals, world-class energy resources, and a strategic location at the crossroads of the world. But having these resources isn't enough. We need the infrastructure to develop them responsibly and get them to market. This $249 million investment will finally help complete a long-awaited connection between Port MacKenzie and the Alaska Railroad, opening new opportunities for mineral development, supporting major energy projects like Alaska LNG, and creating good-paying jobs for Alaska’s hard-working families. It will also strengthen our supply chains, improve transportation efficiency, and bolster America's economic and national security. I want to thank the administration, especially Secretary Duffy, Governor Dunleavy, the Mat-Su Borough, the Alaska Railroad, AIDEA, and all the local, state, and federal partners who have worked for years to make this project a reality. This is how we build a stronger future for our great state and create new opportunities for the next generation of Alaskans.”

“I’m thankful to Secretary Duffy and the administration for recognizing the importance of this project, which I have long supported,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “This new link will help move cargo, including from resource projects in the area, while improving system safety and reducing shipping times and costs. This is exactly what we envisioned when we included the CRISI program in our bipartisan infrastructure law, and it’s why I continue to push for additional funding through our annual appropriations process. Good things happen in Alaska when we help fund infrastructure investments at the federal level.”

“For decades, Alaskans have recognized the tremendous opportunity at Port MacKenzie, but realizing that vision requires sustained investment and a commitment to building the infrastructure necessary to move our resources to market,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “As Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads and Pipelines in the U.S. House, I have worked to ensure Alaska’s unique transportation needs remain a priority in Washington. Earlier this year, we helped secure $34 million to expand Port MacKenzie’s capabilities, and today’s announcement of an additional 250 million builds on that progress by advancing the critical rail connection needed to support Alaska’s mining, energy, and industrial development. I thank Secretary Duffy and the Alaska delegation for their partnership and look forward to continuing our work to see this project through to completion.”

Additional Information:

Last April, FRA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the CRISI program intended to provide funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. Under Secretary Duffy, the grant programs revamped criteria prioritize safety, the American family, and workforce development, job quality and wealth creation. Specifically, the Department is supporting projects that: reduce congestion, jumpstart ridership growth on passenger railroads, improve regional railroad infrastructure or develop safety programs to prevent trespassing and reduce injuries and fatalities. More information on the CRISI Program can be found here.

The Trump Administration is working to usher in the Golden Age of Rail in the U.S. In August, the Department announced it was investing over $5 billion in rail projects across the country. Alaska received a $28.8 million investment to repair and rehabilitate the MP 284.2 bridge across the Hurricane Gulch in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. These improvements will extend the useful life of the bridge and allow train speeds to increase from 10 mph to 25 mph.

Roughly $2 billion of that grant package is funding Secretary Duffy saved the American people by canceling Gavin Newsom’s disastrous high-speed train to nowhere.

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