On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it had awarded more than $570 million in grants to eliminate points where railroad tracks intersect with roads, blocking vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program is the first dedicated grant program to address at-grade crossings. Grants were awarded in 32 states and will address more than 400 crossings nationwide, improving safety and making getting around railroad tracks easier.
Blocked crossings not only delay commuters, but can hinder first responders, officials said. Additionally, addressing at-grade crossings will reduce collisions between trains and vehicles. Last year, officials said, more than 2,000 highway-rail crossing collisions were reported across the U.S., and more than 30,000 reports of blocked crossings were submitted to the FRA.
“Every year, commuters, residents, and first responders lose valuable time waiting at blocked railroad crossings – and worse, those crossings are too often the site of collisions that could be prevented,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re improving rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time, and resources for American families.”
The FRA said it has received complaints from citizens, states and localities about delays and disruptions caused by frequently blocked crossings that force residents and others to wait hours at intersections or to take detours. The projects selected for funding will improve the quality of life in communities affected by railroad crossing delays and create safer rail crossings, officials said.
Among the grant recipients were Texas, which will receive nearly $37 million for the West Belt Improvement Project in Houston to build a 9,000-foot sealed corridor, construct four underpasses, close four at-grade crossings and eliminate seven at-grade roadway-rail crossings. Indiana will receive $7 million for the Governors Parkway Railroad Overpass Project in the city of Hammond to construct a new, centrally located overpass and eliminate two crossings where roads intersect with Norfolk Southern Railway.
“The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program is another critical tool that FRA is using to make a lasting impact on the safety and transportation needs of communities nationwide,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “With these project selections and the many more that are to come, we will save lives and reshape infrastructure in ways that allow individuals to move through their neighborhoods seamlessly and safely.”