The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL), serving rural communities with century-old lines, faced safety and efficiency challenges due to aging infrastructure. A $43 million project funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and SKOL upgraded rail quality, ties, crossings, and signaling. Completed in late 2023, the project increased SKOL’s annual railcar handling by 1,300 units. Aggregate producers like Cornejo and Monarch Cement witnessed a nearly a 25 percent increase in carloads, while local grain elevators and agricultural companies can now ship products in larger railcars. Service was also restored to a local supplier, Bartlett Grain, which is nearing completion of a $300 million soybean processing plant. Additionally, a $900 million refinery for sustainable fuel has been approved near Bartlett Grain, utilizing byproducts for green energy. The upgrades significantly improved safety, especially at rural grade crossings, benefiting local responders and school bus drivers while fostering long-term growth and business prospects for SKOL.
America's Transportation Awards 