The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to projects in 32 states. The inaugural round of funding will address more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, improve safety and make it easier to get around railroad tracks by adding grade separations, closing at-grade crossings and improving existing at-grade crossings where train tracks and roads intersect.
In 2022, there were more than 2,000 highway-rail crossing collisions in the U.S. and more than 30,000 reports of blocked crossings submitted to FRA’s public complaint portal.
“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 USDOT 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.”
For years, FRA has received complaints from citizens, states and localities regarding the delays and disruptions caused by frequently blocked crossings that force residents to wait hours at intersections or take detours. These delays and disruptions can also prevent first responders from getting to emergencies quickly. Over 2,000 collisions occur every year at highway-rail grade crossings. The projects selected for funding in the first year of this program will greatly improve the quality of life in communities big and small, creating safer rail crossings and allowing people to get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, hospitals, fire stations and workplaces without being stranded and delayed by a standing train.
“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.”
Along with projects that build or upgrade physical infrastructure at railroad crossings, FRA awarded $15.7 million for planning activities and $33.1 million for project development and design activities that will build a pipeline of projects for future funding. $127.5 million, 22 percent of all funding, was awarded to projects in rural areas or on Tribal lands.
Examples of major projects funded for 2023 include:
- California – Doran Street Grade Separation Project (Up to $38.3 million)- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro): The proposed project will support construction activities to eliminate the at-grade crossing at Doran Street and constructing a grade-separated structure that links Los Angeles and Glendale by connecting West San Fernando Road to the Fairmont Avenue bridge. The crossing right-of way is owned by Metrolink, and the project addresses concerns at Doran Street Crossing, which has one of the highest numbers of safety incidents in LA County. L.A. Metro is providing a 28 percent non-federal match.
- California – Third Street Grade Separation Project (Up to $15 million)- city of Riverside: The proposed project will support construction activities to build a grade separation at Third Street and the BNSF mainline in the city of Riverside. The project involves building a four-lane underpass while three mainline BNSF tracks will be realigned to improve train speeds. The BNSF mainline carries 86 trains daily (66 freight and 20 passenger – Amtrak and commuter). BNSF, the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Transportation Commission will contribute funds totaling a 68 percent non-federal match.
- Utah – Bluffdale Pedestrian Overpass Project (Up to $3.2 million)- city of Bluffdale: The proposed project will support project development, final design, right-of-way acquisition and construction activities to close a private at-grade crossing and build a non-motorized, ADA-compliant overpass over Union Pacific's rail line, which also hosts BNSF freight trains and Front Runner commuter rail service. The project will eliminate the need for residents to use a 2.5-mile detour to access schools and neighborhoods. The city of Bluffdale will contribute a 20 percent non-federal match.
- Florida – City of Fort Lauderdale Railroad Safety and Congestion Analysis (Up to $280,000)- city of Fort Lauderdale: The proposed planning project will study 15 crossings within the city of Fort Lauderdale along the existing Florida East Coast Railway corridor. Intercity passenger rail service is expected to expand over the next couple years, and the project will help identify means to improve safety at the rail grade crossings. Florida East Coast Railroad and Brightline trains operate over these crossings, causing delays at numerous crossings. The study will focus on data related to traffic, delays and interactions at the crossings. The city of Fort Lauderdale is providing a 20 percent non-federal match.
The full list of projects can be viewed on FRA’s website.
