County supports Arbor Rail Line upgrade
Freight traffic could go from 25 to 40 mph
By News Channel Nebraska
NEBRASKA CITY – Otoe County commissioners advocated Tuesday for the upgrade of Omaha Public Power District’s Arbor Rail Line between Nebraska City and Lincoln.
Commissioners say the rail line allows the power company’s Nebraska City power plants to be served by two railroads and allows the railroads to serve as a common carrier offering regional and national freight movement for local industries. The 56-mile Arbor Rail Line was used to help construct the Frontier Cooperative site at Syracuse and currently serves the rail transfer system there.
Jason Esser, OPPD business retention and expansion coordinator, told commissioners that Arbor Rail Line enhancements will increase the speed limit from 25 to 40 mph.
Esser: “We want to be able to speed traffic on that line. It’s new rail. Anything that has been replaced because of recent events wont’ be replaced, obviously, but it will be upgraded to new rail.”
He said approval for federal funding could be announced in July and work would begin in 2026.
The county’s letter of support says Arbor Rail Line will be improved from class 2 to class 3 track standards to allow quicker transport of goods and reduce railroad operating costs.
OPPD re-activated the western half of the line in 2020.