U.S. Department of Transportation Awards $570 Million in Funding for Railroad Crossing Elimination Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced the awarding of $570 million in funding for Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program projects. This inaugural round of funding will address over 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, improving safety and making it easier to navigate railroad tracks by adding grade separations, closing at-grade crossings, and upgrading existing intersections. The projects selected for funding will greatly improve quality of life in communities across the country, creating safer rail crossings and allowing people to travel without being stranded or delayed by standing trains.

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $570 million in funding for Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program projects in 32 states.
Over 400 at-grade crossings nationwide will be addressed, improving safety and making it easier to navigate railroad tracks.
The projects selected for funding will eliminate major traffic delays, improve air quality, and reduce delays for drivers, pedestrians, and emergency responders.
Twenty-two percent of all funding, $127.5 million, was awarded to projects in rural areas or on Tribal lands.
Examples of major projects funded this year include:

+ Texas - West Belt Improvement Project (Phase 1) ($36,916,200) to construct a 9,000-foot sealed corridor, build four underpasses, close four at-grade crossings, and eliminate seven at-grade roadway-rail crossings.

+ Alabama - Railroad Crossing Elimination on Shelby County Road 52 ($41,766,038) to construct a bridge and eliminate two existing at-grade crossings.

+ Indiana - Governors Parkway Railroad Overpass Project ($7,029,392) to construct a new, centrally located overpass and eliminate two grade crossings.

+ Ohio - Unlocking the Iron Triangle: Grade Separation of S Town Street, Fostoria, Ohio ($7,245,000) to construct a bridge and eliminate three grade crossings.

+ Florida - Broward County Sealed Corridor Project ($15,440,000) to increase safety at 21 grade crossings.

+ Iowa - South Concord Street Grade Separation ($7,756,862) to eliminate one highway-rail crossing and build an overpass.

+ Washington - 32nd Street Underpass Project ($40,480,000) to reconstruct five key intersections and improve safety and traffic flow.

Statistics:

Over 2,000 highway-rail collisions occur every year in the U.S.
Over 30,000 reports of blocked crossings are submitted to FRA's public complaint portal every year.
Twenty-two percent of all funding, $127.5 million, was awarded to projects in rural areas or on Tribal lands.
$15.7 million was awarded for planning activities and $33.1 million for project development and design activities.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
White House: Investing in America agenda
Federal Highway Administration
City of Houston
City of Pelham
City of Hammond
City of Fostoria
Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Davenport
City of Washougal