Wyoming Department of Transportation 2026 Statewide Railplan

Welcome to the first online meeting for the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) Statewide Rail Plan (SRP).

Provide an overview of the SRP process, goals, and objectives, including applicable Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) guidance for Plan development.

Review the existing Wyoming rail system and current rail operations.

Discuss current and future needs and opportunities for the Wyoming rail system.

Outline the role of the Grade Crossing Action Plan in planning for enhanced grade crossing safety in Wyoming.

Connect with stakeholders, residents, private businesses, and municipalities.

The Statewide Rail Plan will serve as a planning document for rail infrastructure and improvements that align with the goals and objectives of WYDOT and the FRA. Rail planning enables WYDOT to make informed decisions, identify and prioritize areas for improvement on the rail system, enhance safety, and work toward a transportation network that meets the needs of current and future generations.

The SRP will establish policies involving freight and passenger rail transportation and will present priorities and strategies to enhance rail service in the state. The SRP will serve as a basis for federal and state rail-related investment opportunities.

Definitions:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

Subsidiary of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), a federal agency with regulatory authority over rail safety and the ability to make rail grants through several programs.

Statewide Rail Plan

Plan setting forth policies involving freight and passenger rail transportation in the state, to be submitted to the FRA for approval.

Grade Crossing Action Plan

A strategic document developed to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings. These plans are mandated by the FRA under the Rail Improvement Act of 2008 and further reinforced by the Fixing America’s Transportation (FAST) Act.

Rail Industries

Wyoming’s rail network, now primarily operated by Union Pacific and BNSF, is vital to the state's economy. It ranks first in the nation for freight tons originated in 2023 and supports a strong railroad workforce, which positions the state to play a key role in emerging energy sectors.

Two of the big three industries in Wyoming, agriculture and energy, are considered to be rail-reliant industries. This means that, for each of these industries, much of their product is moved via rail when measured in both tonnage and value.

Coal

Largest share of freight moved in Wyoming by tonnage and value

Other Mining

Bentonite, trona, & soda ash

Petroleum

Oil & gas

Agriculture

Corn, barley, & wheat

Construction

Cement, wallboard, pipe, & plastics

Rail supports:

Economic expansion and diversification, allowing Wyoming products to be efficiently exported

Existing industries and job creation in Wyoming by providing a cost-effective logistics network for new businesses

Safer and less congested highways, promoting more efficient travel and reducing highway maintenance

Efficient movement over long distances, including exports

The Role of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

The FRA is a modal administration within the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Within the FRA, the Office of Railroad Safety and Office Railroad Development have regulatory authority over all publicly and privately owned rail in the United States.

Funding Resources for Railroad Projects:

Special Transportation Circumstances (STC)

STC funding is special, directed funding made from FRA funding programs available for projects within states that are not served by the national Amtrak network. Only the states of Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming are eligible applicants. Projects submitted for funding must provide freight rail benefits and be identified in a respective state rail plan. Wyoming prioritizes this funding for grade separations and other grade crossing improvements. This program requires a 20% non-federal match, which can come from local or private funding sources.

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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI)

Initially created in 2015, CRISI is FRA's primary funding program for freight rail projects. Eligible project types must produce measurable passenger or freight rail benefits, including enhanced multimodal connectivity, capacity, and state of good repair of rail assets. Safety projects, such as grade separations or improvements to at-grade crossings, are also considered eligible. Planning, project development (preliminary engineering and environmental review), and design/construction can be funded through CRISI. Eligible applicants include short-line (Class II or III) railroads, states, cities, counties, other local jurisdictions, tribes, and publicly established railroad authorities. This program requires a 20% non-federal match, which can come from local or private funding sources.

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Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE)

Created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, RCE is an FRA program that provides a specific funding source for improving safety at existing at-grade rail/highway crossings through elimination, grade separation resulting in closure, or other improvements such as advanced signals or gates that enhance safety. The FRA encourages applicants to look at rail corridors or otherwise group potential grade crossing improvements. Planning, project development (preliminary engineering and environmental review), and design/construction can all be funded through RCE. Eligible applicants include states, cities, counties, other local jurisdictions, port authorities, tribes, and publicly established railroad authorities. This program requires a 20% non-federal match, which can come from local or private funding sources.

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Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) (formerly RAISE, formerly TIGER)

BUILD, originally created in 2009, is a USDOT multimodal funding program administered by the Office of the Secretary that can fund a variety of surface transportation projects, including but not limited to highway, transit, and freight or passenger rail. While planning, project development (preliminary engineering and environmental review), and design/construction can all be funded through BUILD, the program typically has size limitations on federal awards ($25 million). Eligible applicants include states, cities, counties, other local jurisdictions, commuter rail authorities, tribes, and publicly established railroad authorities. This program requires a 20% non-federal match for most projects, though the match requirements can vary for rural and/or planning projects with each funding opportunity. The required non-federal match can come from local or private funding sources.

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Thank you for taking the time to participate in this online meeting. We will be collecting comments and input until Friday, January 16, 2026. Throughout the next six months, the project team will be developing a draft SRP following the Federal Railroad Administration’s guidance that aligns with Wyoming’s rail vision.

If you would like to be kept up to date on future input opportunities, please leave your contact information in the comment form at the top, right-hand corner.