The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration announced it has awarded more than $21 million to the state of Indiana in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding for five projects. Nationally, the RCE Program will provide over $570 million in funding for 63 projects in 32 states. This 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.
Preventing blocked crossings and collisions is one of many ways President Biden’s Investing in America agenda will make a difference in people’s everyday lives by improving safety and convenience and creating good-paying jobs to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. Last year, 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 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.”
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. Further, 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. Twenty two percent of all funding, $127.5 million, was awarded to projects in rural areas or on Tribal lands.
Projects supported by RCE Program funding in Indiana include:
City of Hammond, Governors Parkway Railroad Overpass Project ($7,029,392)
The project will eliminate two grade crossings where Parrish Avenue and Arizona Avenue intersect with Norfolk Southern Railway’s rail line and build a grade-separated road overpass and a new road alignment to be called Governor’s Parkway. Hammond, Indiana, a city with 53 at-grade crossings, will benefit from safe routes where vehicles can avoid crossings blocked by trains in a four-mile area. The City of Hammond, the State of Indiana, and Norfolk Southern will contribute funds totaling a 26 percent non-Federal match. The project also includes $2,626,775 in Federal Highway Administration funds.
City of Gary, Buffington Harbor Gateway Project ($4,500,000)
The project will support construction to eliminate eight at-grade rail crossings on a heavily traveled freight corridor that is also part of the military’s Strategic Rail Corridor Network. With more than 134 train crossings per day, closing the crossings on Clark Road will significantly enhance safety in the area, facilitate the smooth movement of freight goods, and prevent supply chain disruptions. This project will straighten a S-shaped curve alignment at a roadway intersection and shift another roadway alignment north. Gary and the Indiana Department of Transportation will be contributing a combined 49 percent non-Federal match. The project also includes $9,588,835 from the Federal Highway Administration.
City of Peru, Peru Grade Separation Feasibility Study ($76,000)
The planning project will assess the feasibility of eliminating one or more of six at-grade rail crossings as well as the construction of an underpass on Norfolk Southern right-of-way. Trains are required to stop at the nearby rail yard for crew transfers, which frequently blocks the crossings. The project will therefore evaluate how these improvements reduce traffic congestion and wait times in the area. The City of Peru is providing a 20 percent non-Federal match.
Town of Schererville, Kennedy Avenue Railroad Overpass Project ($8,452,558)
The project will fund final design and construction of a grade separation in the Town of Schererville. With over 32 trains traversing the crossing a day, the new structure is expected to improve existing capacity challenges. The Town of Schererville, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National Railway will contribute a combined 30 percent non-Federal match.
Wells County Hoosier Highway Crossing Elimination Project ($1,114,261)
This project will support development efforts to close three at-grade rail crossings on Norfolk Southern’s rail line by re-aligning Hoosier Highway. The project will ease congestion and improve mobility by allowing for continuous vehicular travel flow, reducing delays, and reducing conflict points between rail and motorists. Wells County, the State of Indiana, and Norfolk Southern will contribute funds totaling an 87 percent non-Federal match. The project also includes $4,083,137 from Federal Highway Administration funds.
There are more than 130,000 miles of railroad track in the U.S. and improving safety in the communities where they run is a priority for the Department.
Over each of the next four years, additional RCE Program funding will be made available annually. Project selections for other grant programs that will improve freight rail safety and efficiency, strengthen supply chains, and expand the passenger rail network – representing billions of dollars in infrastructure law investments – will be announced in the coming months.
