USDOT Invests Up to $59.6 Million in Nebraska Transportation Projects

Nov. 5, 2026 (Lincoln, Neb.) — The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) continues to show its support for the important work being done on the Nebraska transportation system, selecting seven projects to receive a combined total of $59.6 million in federal funding. The projects include a Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) truck parking project along Interstate 80 (I-80) in Dawson County, and six rail projects to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail in Nebraska.

Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway (INFRA) Track 2 Grant

The NDOT project is supported by a $7.46 million Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Project (INFRA) Track 2 grant and will add approximately 120 new truck parking stalls along I-80 in Dawson County, between Elm Creek and Overton. The total project investment is $15.5 million using federal and state funds. INFRA Track 2 funding specifically supports commercial motor vehicle (CMV) parking projects, targeting the national shortage of CMV parking by expanding safe, accessible public parking for commercial drivers.

“I-80 is a critical freight corridor for Nebraska and the nation, and safe truck parking is an important part of keeping freight moving,” NDOT Director Vicki Kramer said. “By adding approximately 92 stalls of parking capacity, we improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of the movement of people and goods along I-80. We appreciate Secretary Sean Duffy and USDOT for investing in this project and in other transportation projects across Nebraska that address critical needs and strengthen our transportation network.”

Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail
USDOT selected two Nebraska projects through its Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. The program supports improvements to American passenger rail assets by funding projects that enhance safety, reduce the State of Good Repair backlog, improve performance, or expand and establish new intercity passenger rail service.

NDOT was selected to receive up to $7 million for the California Zephyr Corridor Reliability Improvement project. The proposed project includes track improvements across Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado on BNSF owned infrastructure. Improvements include installation of switch heaters, hot air blowers, and turnout replacements, and will remove existing main line speed restrictions and preserve operational capacity during winter to reduce frozen-switch incidents.

The City of Crete will receive $1.1 million in FSP funding for the BNSF Railway Corridor Highway/Rail Grade Crossing Safety Study. The study will examine eight existing at-grade crossings in Crete on BNSF owned infrastructure between mile markers 77.65 and 82.25. It will assess potential improvements, upgrades, or closures of the crossings to improve crossing safety and reduce congestion on a shared passenger and freight rail corridor.

Railroad Crossing Elimination/Crossing Safety Grant Program
NDOT was selected to receive up to $800,000 through the Federal Railroad Association’s (FRA) Rail Crossing Eliminations (RCE) Grant Program for the Western Nebraska Corridor Safety Study. The project will support the development of a comprehensive corridor study of approximately 98 public at-grade railroad crossings on BNSF Railway's Valley, Angora, Butte and Sand Hills subdivisions within six counties of western Nebraska. The study will evaluate the feasibility and necessity of closing crossings or grade separations to improve the safety and mobility of people and goods.

Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI)
In addition, USDOT selected three separate Nebraska rail projects through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. CRISI provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail.

The Nebraska Central Railroad Company was selected to receive up to $14.9 million for research and development of Super Intelligence (SI) predictive technology for safer rail infrastructure in Imperial, Hamlet, and Culbertson. The proposed project will provide real-time monitoring and predictive alerts to identify 17 developing infrastructure risks, reduce emergency track outages and slow orders, and avoid derailments through early detection of track defects.

The Nebraska Kansas & Colorado Railway, LLC, was selected to receive up to $21.1 million to rehabilitate approximately 49 miles of track in Imperial, Hamlet and Culbertson. The project will replace ties, improve ballast and make other track improvements to restore operating speeds of 25 mph while improving safety and reliability.

The Omaha Public Power District was selected to receive up to $7.1 million to rehabilitate rail infrastructure between Lincoln and Nebraska City, including aging track and bridge infrastructure. The project will restore the line to a state of good repair and enhance operations.

Together, the seven projects will strengthen Nebraska’s transportation network and support the safe, efficient and reliable movement of people and goods across the state.