Archive: A railroad crossing on Park Avenue, Illinois Route 148, in Herrin, Illinois, photographed June 5, 2021. The image illustrates a grade crossing and is not identified as a recipient of the newly announced grants. Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0. Resized; no other change.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $1.24 billion in railroad-crossing safety funding through 91 grants in 37 states, backing projects intended to reduce collisions, blocked roads and delays along rail corridors.
The Federal Railroad Administration awards, announced October 30 through the fiscal 2025-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, will support overpasses, crossing closures, signal improvements and planning work.
The funding covers projects at different stages. Some awards support construction, while others pay for design or evaluation of future improvements. The announcement does not mean the work has already been completed.
Overpasses and signal upgrades
Texas will receive $46 million to support a grade-separated overpass carrying RM 2871 over the Union Pacific Railroad and Aledo Road in Fort Worth. The department said the project is intended to remove a highway-rail conflict point and improve the reliability of emergency responses.
In Idaho, Nampa will receive $43 million for the Robinson Road and Greenhurst Road Overpass Project, which is intended to replace an at-grade crossing where trains frequently block road traffic.
The Port Authority of Kansas City will receive $72 million for a grade-separation project in Kansas City, Missouri, intended to eliminate three existing at-grade crossings.
Georgia’s Department of Transportation will receive $31.7 million to upgrade connections between railroad warning systems and traffic signals at approximately 31 high-risk crossings.
Planning for future changes
Not every grant pays for immediate construction. Marana, Arizona, will receive $6.4 million to advance development, environmental review and preliminary design for a future grade separation involving Tangerine Road and Interstate 10.
Saint Louis County, Minnesota, will receive $1.7 million to evaluate four public roadway crossings along a Canadian National mainline corridor. The work will examine longer-term options such as closures, grade separations or other safety improvements.
The department said applications were evaluated on project readiness, technical merit and project benefits. It described the program’s goals as making crossings safer and reducing the disruption caused when trains block roads.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation’s October 30 announcement.
JBizNews Business Desk | Washington
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