WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it has awarded more than $2.5 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding for rail projects in Louisiana. This funding is part of a $1.1 billion total investment to improve and study more than 1,000 highway rail crossings nationwide, and it is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history. Combined with previous rail investments announced under the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the country and Amtrak.
Rail grants being announced today for communities in 41 states will build railroad overpasses and underpasses, fund safety upgrades that will save lives, and make improvements that will result in safer communities for pedestrians and motorists as well as rail workers and riders. The construction of new overpasses and underpasses, in particular, will eliminate the risk of collisions between trains and roadway users and prevent blocked crossings—which delays drivers and emergency responders alike—greatly enhancing safety, mobility, and connectivity for local communities nationwide.
“This Administration is tackling the issues that Americans face every day, and over the years, we have engaged with residents, community leaders, and stakeholders across the country on the issue of grade crossing safety and blocked crossings,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding we’re announcing today is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens.”
Accidents at grade crossings are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States, with more than 2,000 incidents and 200 fatalities occurring at grade crossings each year. Furthermore, blockages resulting from slow moving or stalled trains at crossings cost time and resources for American families and may cut off access roads and delay first responders from reaching emergencies. Over the last twelve months, FRA received more than 26,000 complaints of blocked crossings through the agency’s Public Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter.
“From day one of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have committed ourselves to making rail safer for all Americas, and since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have made unprecedented investments to modernize and improve America’s rail networks,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “Today’s grants are another example of the Biden-Harris Administration reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America's rail network and delivering for the American people, helping people in communities big and small get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, and workplaces safely and without delays.”
Projects funded by the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program include:
Baldwin Railroad Crossing Elimination, Enhancement, and Access Project(Up to $2,504,000)
Town of Baldwin
The proposed project was selected for Final Design and Construction and includes activities to construct an access road to close three crossings and improve two additional crossings on BNSF infrastructure in Baldwin, Louisiana. The project will construct a public access road along the south side of the track within the BNSF right-of-way to facilitate vehicle access to the remaining open crossing. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will address historical issues with incidents at these locations and will resolve vehicle and emergency responders experiencing blocked at-grade crossings. The Town of Baldwin and BNSF will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural areas.
The full list of FY 2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program selections can be found here.