Five states share $5.2M for grade crossing improvements

Five U.S. states will share $5.2 million to improve highway-rail grade crossings as part of a program to enhance safety and prepare federally designated corridors for future high-speed rail operations. The five states — Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin — will receive amounts ranging from $372,800 for Wisconsin to $1.5 million for Oklahoma. "These grants will help prevent vehicle-train collisions and move us closer to the day when high-speed rail can be a real option for travelers," said Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Betty Monro.