Columbia’s COLT railroad will have guest riders Wednesday

By Brian Hauswirth

You’ll see Boone County commissioners riding Columbia’s COLT railroad Wednesday morning.

img 2939 (002) — Columbia’s COLT railroad is owned by the city and is operated by Columbia Utilities (file photo courtesy of Columbia spokeswoman Sydney Olsen)

The commissioners will be participating in a ride-along this morning starting at 8. Columbia officials are currently working on a $4-million improvement project on the COLT railroad, saying that will increase the resiliency and capacity of the railway. City of Columbia Utilities has received a $3.2 million federal grant for COLT railroad infrastructure improvements. The city of Columbia is providing an $800,000 match. City Utilities says the $4-million project will improve eight miles of track, over ten sections. The city plans to upgrade the current 90-pound rail with 115-pound rail, replacing defective railroad ties and making surface upgrades.

The city of Columbia’s website says COLT railroad’s five-year direct impact accounts for about $670-million in sales, 243 jobs and more than $2-million in tax revenue for the city and Boone County.