Rail Projects Earn Honors

Two Watco short lines were recently recognized by America’s Transportation Awards (ATA) for major projects they completed in 2023.

The ATAs are presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AAA, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. All state’s departments of transportation are invited to nominate infrastructure projects in four categories. Watco’s Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad (PCC) and South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL) were both regional winners.

The SKOL and Kansas Department of Transportation earned the Midwest’s top honors for Operational Excellence, where they partnered to upgrade rail infrastructure in southeast Kansas. The $43 million investment included 34 miles of new rail, 150,000 new cross ties, 27 bridge improvements, 66 crossing upgrades, and more. The project supports new and existing customers by improving service, while making the community safer through better grade crossings along the railroad.

The PCC and Washington State Department of Transportation also earned the Operations Excellence award in the Western Region for their response following a wildfire. The fire destroyed a 200-foot bridge near Winona, Wash., which is a major artery for agriculture producers in the region. In just 33 days, they replaced the old wooden structure with a steel and concrete bridge, reopening the line and making it more resilient in case of future fires.

This year’s competition saw 106 entries from 39 states. After its regional win, the Winona Bridge was selected as a national “Top 12” project, making it eligible for the judge’s Grand Prize and People’s Choice Award.

“It’s an honor to be in the running,” said Jerry Waun, SKOL general manager. “We accomplished what we set out to do: improve and repair rail infrastructure in rural areas. These projects and their recognition by the ATA show what we can achieve when we collaborate with our state partners.”