Tag Archives: Railroad

No railroad funding in the new state budget a concern to White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson. Robinson chairs the Tri-County Railroad Authority. He said funding for railroad maintenance has become hard to come by. Robinson said Governor Bill Lee gave $85 million for railroads in 2019, but that funding is set to run out next year. “With it not ... Read More »

Senator Ken Yager working on legislation to explore passenger railroad service across the state. Yager said Senate Bill 2343 would require the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) perform a study and make recommendations and the feasibility of a railway. “It would provide a way to ship goods and maybe get some of the traffic off the interstate which ... Read More »

News that future improvements to Putnam County railways are possible, could revitalize train tourism. TDOT agreed on Friday to pay off an $8.5 million dollar loan taken out on the railroad. Friends of The Baxter Depot’s Jeanie Lee said funding being available to increase speeds and safety could be huge to future tourism. “It was such a good thing when ... Read More »

An $8.5 million loan to keep railroad tracks in place and usable in Putnam County will be paid off by TDOT. Mayor Randy Porter said the decision came Friday. Putnam, Smith and Wilson Counties took out the loan several years ago. Porter said when diesel taxation methods changed, the railroads brought lawsuits against the state. Porter said during this time, ... Read More »