Governor Dennis Daugaard’s State of the State Address focused on improving South Dakota’s transportation system. Much of that time was spent on funding proposals to improve the state’s roads and bridges. But Daugaard says another way to save excessive wear on highways is to utilize rail.
(BITE :35) “We all know trucks take a toll on our roads—let’s put that in perspective. One truck with a legal load—a legal load—causes the same wear on our highways as 9-thousand, 600 cars. That’s one legally loaded truck. One unit train replaces 450 trucks. So rail saves our highways. Our farmers depend on rail to ship grain, on privately-owned rail and lines owned by the state as well.”
Daugaard says a new state rail plan offers 56 million dollars in public and private investments for long-term improvements. He says that has led to plans for two new grain storage facilities. One is set for Kennebec, while the other is planned for Britton.