US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced $249 million in federal grants to connect Port MacKenzie to the Port of Alaska by rail, Alaska's News Source reports.
The money goes to the Alaska Railroad Corporation from a federal rail safety and improvement programme and is due to be delivered by the spring. The announcement in Palmer came on the day early voting began, with Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican, hosting the event amid a contentious Senate race against former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola.
Asked whether the funding was linked to the race, Mr Duffy dismissed the question and said he was touring projects in Republican and Democratic states alike. Local leaders were divided on the timing. A spokesperson for Ms Peltola called the investment great news for Alaska and said she had long backed the rail extension.
Source: Alaska's News Source
