RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Council has approved a long-term plan that could relocate the city’s rail yard and significantly reduce train-related traffic delays in southeast Rapid City.
The plan calls for moving rail yard operations east of Box Elder near Highway 14-16 and rebuilding a key railway junction near downtown. City officials say the proposal emerged as planners considered whether it made more sense to relocate the rail yard rather than spend an estimated 40 million dollars replacing the aging Campbell Street bridge.
Planning officials say the current rail configuration forces trains to travel into the downtown rail yard and reverse direction, creating frequent traffic blockages on roads such as Saint Patrick Street.
Under the proposal, mainline tracks would remain in Rapid City, but train traffic through the city could be reduced from multiple trains per day to just a few trips each week.
The project is estimated to cost between 40 and 80 million dollars. City officials say construction is still years away, with the next step involving discussions with state, federal, and railroad partners and pursuing grant funding opportunities.
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