New York Short Line Secures $11.2M Federal Grant for Track Modernization

Ontario Midland Railroad has received an $11.2 million federal grant through the Federal Railroad Administration's CRISI program to modernize approximately 10 miles of track infrastructure in Wayne County, New York. The Wayne County Mainline Safety and Reliability Project will replace nine miles of rail, resurface eight grade crossings, replace seven turnouts, and perform comprehensive track maintenance. This investment is part of a combined $20.8 million allocation to short-line operators in the region, with Falls Road Railroad also receiving $9.6 million for infrastructure improvements. The project directly supports agricultural and manufacturing shippers across the Rochester metropolitan area by reducing safety risks, improving operational reliability, and strengthening regional supply chain connectivity through the CSX interchange at Newark.

For supply chain professionals, this funding announcement signals positive momentum in federal infrastructure spending for regional rail networks. Short-line railroads are critical for first-mile and last-mile connectivity in rural and secondary markets, yet they often struggle with capital constraints for track maintenance. This grant addresses a structural gap in regional transportation capacity and represents a strategic intervention to reduce truck dependency while supporting economic development in underserved areas. The modernization project should improve service velocity, reduce delays from track restrictions, and enhance shipper confidence in rail service reliability within the next 12-18 months.

The timing and scale of this investment also reflect broader policy priorities around supply chain resilience and modal diversification away from congested highway corridors. Shippers dependent on Ontario Midland's network should begin planning for service improvements and consider optimizing freight routing strategies as the rehabilitation work progresses through 2025-2026.