WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA), and Representative Ralph Abraham today announced The Department of Transportation is awarding a $10.5 million grant to the Southeast Arkansas and Northeast Louisiana Multimodal Freight Corridor Improvement Project to help fund needed upgrades to the short rail system in the area. The project would directly benefit the Port of Lake Providence, Port of Madison and local economies by increasing capacity, efficiency and safety for goods shipped along the corridor.
Cassidy urged US Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to grant this crucial funding to Northeast Louisiana.
“This grant will help create jobs in a region of the state which has not been doing as well. President Trump cares about working families. This is a great example,” said Dr. Cassidy.
“Louisiana’s economy heavily relies on the efficiency and safety of our freight rail system,” said Senator Kennedy. “This grant will help improve the connectivity between the Lake Providence Port and the Madison Parish Port by funding rail infrastructure upgrades. These upgrades will provide local jobs in northeast Louisiana, and they will enhance the area’s economic development.”
“The Lake Providence and Tallulah ports are important economic drivers for Northeast Louisiana, and railroads are some of the main ways that farmers get their crops to these ports. This grant is huge news for my district, and I appreciate President Trump and Sec. Chao for investing in Louisiana,” said Representative Abraham.
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