Looking to improve rail safety and efficiency, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) put up $56.9 million in grant funding last week for railroad projects in 16 states.
The funds were pulled from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, as managed by the Federal Railroad Administration. These funds go toward rail infrastructure, with at least 25 percent of the awards going to rural endeavors. Further, as bound by the 2017 Appropriations Act, $10 million were put to restoration or creation of intercity passenger rail service projects.
Those intercity restoration funds are being directed to one specific project: the Millbrook Road Grade Separation Sealed Corridor Project in North Carolina, which will combine three grade separations on the line, hopefully reducing highway congestion in the process. Meanwhile, the rural projects include eight operations, from a railroad upgrade project in the heart of Georgia to bridge work in New York and Iowa.
“We’re extremely pleased that the CRISI grant program directs much-needed critical investment to rural America,” FRA Administrator Ronald Batory said.
For all projects considered, however, candidates had to support economic vitality, leverage federal funds to attract additional funding, prepare for project life-cycle costs; improve safety and hasten project delivery, and be responsible for delivering results.
Other projects included a variety of operations, from an effort to install supplemental safety features at 48 grade crossings in Florida, to deploying landslide mitigation measures and service planning initiatives in Washington.
“These funds will help repair and upgrade rail infrastructure that will increase safety and service,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.