The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 123 rail projects, improving or studying more than 1,000 highway-rail crossings nationwide.
The announcement is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history. Combined with previous rail investments announced under the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the country.
Making Crossings Safer
The rail grants announced for communities in 41 states will build railroad overpasses and underpasses, fund safety upgrades that will save lives, and make improvements that will result in safer communities for pedestrians and motorists as well as rail workers and riders.
The construction of new overpasses and underpasses will eliminate the risk of collisions between trains and roadway users and prevent blocked crossings greatly enhancing safety, mobility, and connectivity for local communities.
“This Administration is tackling the issues that Americans face every day, and over the years, we have engaged with residents, community leaders, and stakeholders across the country on the issue of grade crossing safety and blocked crossings,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding we’re announcing today is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens.”
Accidents at grade crossings are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States, with more than 2,000 incidents and 200 fatalities occurring at grade crossings each year.
Blockages resulting from slow moving or stalled trains at crossings cost time and resources for American families and may cut off access roads and delay first responders from reaching emergencies. Over the last 12 months, FRA received more than 26,000 complaints of blocked crossings through the agency’s Public Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter.
Funded Projects
Major projects funded by the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grand Program include Arizonia’s Hualapi Tribal Diamond Creek Road Grade Separation Project, South Carolina’s Assembly Street Railroad Separation Project, Illinois’s CREATE Project GS1, and North Carolina’s NC State University/North Carolina Railroad Crossing Safety Training Program.
The FRA is also announcing more than $146 million in funding bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen intercity passenger rail service on six routes across the country, helping to position newly initiated, restored, and enhanced passenger rail routes for long-term success.
Administered through FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program, selected services benefiting from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants include, California’s Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, Connecticut’s CTrail Hartford Line service, Brightline’s Florida service, Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service, North Carolina’s Amtrak Piedmont service, and Amtrak’s Borealis service.
Taken together, these investments will help ensure local communities have access to new services, service enhancements, and restored service.
Rail grants being announced on passenger rail projects of national significance moving forward under the Biden-Harris Administration that will deliver the passenger rail service Americans deserve.
