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Former Blacklands Rail employee David Davis presents about an $8.4 million grant given to the Sulphur Springs company for improvements at their Rusk County facility/ Staff photo by Taylor Nye
Hopkins: “Hopefully we’re next”
Sulphur Springs rail business Blacklands Railroad is the recipient of an $8.4 million grant, according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
The grant, intended for rail infrastructure and safety improvement, is designated for Blacklands Henderson-Overton branch in Rusk County, according to the release.
The grant will allow the company to refurbish approximately 13.7 miles of track, increase track speeds from ten to 25 miles per hour, construct new siding and reduce operating hours by 6 hours every day, the FRA stated.
Former Blacklands employee David Davis stated he believed the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX) could get similar grants if they “looked for strengths in the rail and weren’t always trying to pull together weaknesses.”
Hopkins County NETEX representative Neal Barker stated, “it’s a good sign that people in Northeast Texas are getting money. Hopefully we’re next. Let’s get it.”