A Senate Bill that would appropriate state funding as a match on a project to improve rail infrastructure between Fort Pierre and Midland is amended Monday before the Joint Committee on Appropriations.  Senator Jessica Castleberry says the amendment extends the project from Fort Pierre to Rapid City instead of Midland and increases the appropriation from six to 20-million dollars…

Jerry Vest, Assistant Vice President with the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad says railroad is looking to complete the project sooner than originally planned, which is the basis for the amendment and increase in the requested appropriation…

There was no opposition to the bill.  Senator David Johnson wanted to know if the money would cover improvements to rail crossings for vehicle traffic…

Committee Chair, Senator Jean Hunhoff deferred action on the bill due to the large number of appropriation bill yet to be heard by the Joint Committee on Appropriations.