Mike McKee, Director of the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, recently provided an update on the Uintah Basin Railroad during a Vernal Chamber event. McKee reports that the Uintah Basin Railroad Project is on schedule and was recently granted conditional approval based on the completion of the environmental study. “The Project is a Public-Private Partnership with funds provided by SCIC for environmental clearance and preliminary design and Drexel Hamilton and the Rio Grande Railroad providing Commercialization, Financing, Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance. Studies show that 60% of the economy and 50% of the jobs in the Uintah Basin are based on the extraction industry. The railroad will not only provide the opportunity for increased production but will open opportunities for agriculture, timber, import and export and other industries to base in the area. Rio Grande is a common carrier which means they can handle all kinds of commodities. We are ambassadors for the project,” shared McKee. Public comment is still being accepted and all are encouraged to participate by going to sbt.gov and offering their support of and/or opinion of the project.
