The project includes project development, final design, and construction activities to improve the safety, efficiency, and resilience of 14.28 miles of the obpa?s ogdensburg branch between lisbon…

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority $16,728,564 on December 1, 2025, for project development, final design, and construction to improve safety, efficiency, and resilience of 14.28 miles of the Ogdensburg Branch rail line between Lisbon and Norwood, New York.

Work includes replacement of approximately 8,560 cross ties past their service life, ballast installation, and track surfacing to restore state of good repair and reduce annual maintenance costs. The project replaces 150,600 linear feet of 80-pound and 90-pound rail and three turnouts dating to the early 1900s with modern 115-pound rail, increasing permissible freight car weight from the current maximum of 263,000 pounds to accommodate modern 286,000-pound freight cars. Two public highway-rail grade crossings will be upgraded with new rail and precast concrete surfaces; seven private grade crossings will receive new rail and timber surfaces. These improvements will eliminate 5-mile-per-hour slow orders, restoring maximum authorized freight train speed to 10 miles per hour and providing more efficient and consistent rail service to railroad customers and the St. Lawrence County community.

Performance occurs in New York with completion by March 31, 2029. The award is classified as a Project Grant under the Federal Railroad Administration's assistance program.

The project includes project development, final design, and construction activities to improve the safety, efficiency, and resilience of 14.28 miles of the obpa?s ogdensburg branch between lisbon and norwood, new york. The project will replace approximately 8,560 cross ties that are past their service life, add ballast, and surface all mainline track to improve the state of good repair while reducing annual maintenance costs. Replacement of 150,600 LF of 80-LB and 90-LB rail and three turnouts dating back to the early 1900S with modern 115-LB rail will substantially increase the permissible weight to accommodate modern 286,000-LB freight cars (286K), rather than the current maximum 263,000-LB freight car weight. Safety concerns at two public highway-rail grade crossings will be addressed by upgrading the crossing with new rail and a robust, modular precast concrete surface that is well-suited to heavy truck and auto traffic. Seven private grade crossings will be upgraded with new rail and timber surfaces. These combined improvements will remove 5-MPH slow orders, thus returning the maximum authorized speed freight trains to 10-MPH and providing railroad customers access to more efficient and consistent rail service. The project will benefit the ogdensburg bridge & port authority, the new york & ogdensburg railway/vermont rail system, railroad customers, and the ST. Lawrence county community.