PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The state Senate has approved a measure that seeks to repair a state-owned rail line between Chamberlain and Reliance in central South Dakota.
The bill originally sought $6 million.
But before senators passed the bill and sent it to the House, they changed it so it would spend only $1. Supporters say lawmakers will decide at the end of this year’s legislative session whether the state can afford to spend enough money to actually rehabilitate the rail line.
The rail line from Mitchell to Chamberlain, on the east shore of the Missouri River, was upgraded in a project completed in 2012.
Sen. Mike Vehle (VAL’ee) of Mitchell says it’s time to upgrade another stretch of the line to Reliance, about 15 miles west of the Missouri River.
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