Warnock, Ossoff Secure Nearly $12.5 Million to Improve Rail Safety Across Southwest Georgia

Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff successfully secured nearly $12.5 million in federal grant funding from the Department of Transportation to improve railway safety in Southwest Georgia

The funding will help rehabilitate rail lines, improve 40 railroad crossings, install measures to prevent trespassing, and improve safety and reliability

The funding will support improvement projects in Dawson, Cuthbert, Arlington, Bainbridge, Cordele, and Americus

Senator Reverend Warnock: "This latest grant will help reduce congestion, build new tracks, and strengthen existing rail infrastructure, making it safer, easier, and more efficient to move goods across our state"

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) secured $12,495,000 in federal funding to improve rail safety and infrastructure across central and southwestern Georgia. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, will help rehabilitate rail lines, improve rail service, and increase reliability as part of the Heart of Georgia & Georgia Southwestern Rail Corridor Improvement Final Phase Project.

"Since coming to the Senate, I have been focused on strengthening rail safety and infrastructure in Georgia. That is why I am proud to champion efforts in the Senate to strengthen the CRISI program to deliver more resources to our state," said Senator Warnock. "This latest grant will help reduce congestion, build new tracks, and strengthen existing rail infrastructure, making it safer, easier, and more efficient to move goods across our state."

"After hearing from communities statewide about aging railroad infrastructure conditions, Senator Warnock and I elevated this as one of our highest priorities," said Senator Ossoff. "We are delivering these resources through the bipartisan infrastructure law to communities across the State of Georgia to plan and begin construction to address this crisis. We've listened, we've heard, we've acted, and help is on the way."

The Project will rehabilitate and improve five short line subdivisions across central and southwestern Georgia, including rail corridors serving Dawson, Cuthbert, Arlington, Bainbridge, Cordele, and Americus. Improvements will include replacing jointed rail with continuous welded rail, installing new ties, surfacing track, resurfacing 40 railroad crossings, renewing two turnouts, and installing trespasser prevention technology.

Senator Warnock successfully strengthened the CRISI Program to deliver for Georgia during negotiations for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and wrote a letter of support championing funding for the Heart of Georgia & Georgia Southwestern Rail Corridor Improvement Final Phase Project. In 2024, Senators Warnock and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) secured more than $60 million in CRISI funding to strengthen railroad safety across Georgia, including funding for the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Ports Authority, Patriot Rail Company, and OmniTRAX Holdings.

###