July 16, 2024 - TRA Newswire -

The Federal Railroad Administration's announcement of over $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant funding last week comes right after a Texas Department of Transportation draft presentation of a line item asking the state legislature for $175 million in funds for those exact type of rail at-grade safety projects.

In the Notice of Funding Opportunity last week (NOFO), the FRA said the money would be distributed to states for improving railroad crossing safety and efficiency for projects including grade separation construction, safety devices at crossings, or at-grade crossing closings where roads and train tracks intersect.

The FRA’s focus on addressing blockages at grade crossings lines up with what elected officials in the Houston area have been laser focused on, being able to get across rail lines where trains have impeded traffic for long periods of time. Several Houston regional projects for highway overpasses are now in work with more needed there and in other parts of Texas. 

At the June 27th Texas Transportation Commission meeting, TxDOT officials gave a preview of their 2025 Legislative Appropriation Request (LAR). These are "outside the box" non-highway projects called Exceptional Items. This is a wish list of multi-modal projects that can not be funded through normal channels because 98% of the agency's budget, by law, must be spent on highways. The projects would require approval from the state legislature using general funds. 

The Exceptional Item ask from the legislature in the LAR is for $175 million for local at-grade rail crossing separations. It's not yet known if TxDOT will apply for specific projects, or any funding in the $1.1 billion competitive grant program. 

"These federal rail programs are highly competitive and states that can come up with at least a 20 to 30% share of the project cost can receive the balance in federal funding, just like TxDOT does for highways," according to Texas Rail Advocates President Peter LeCody. "If the legislature approves the $175 million LAR, TxDOT could leverage those state dollars with federal funding and that means a lot of dangerous at-grade railroad crossings around Texas get attention."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said of the billion dollar-plus announcement “By making grade crossings safer or eliminating them altogether, we are acting to ensure Americans spend less time stuck in lengthy delays, can get around their neighborhoods more easily and safely, and can avoid the needless tragedies that result from collisions with trains.”

Project applications will be evaluated on whether they improve safety, increase community connectivity, enhance access to emergency services, improve the mobility of goods, strengthen supply chains and reduce noise. The FRA will set aside at least 20 percent of the funding for projects in rural areas or on tribal lands, about $230 million.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose said. “Railroads play a vital role in our nation’s transportation network by moving people and goods in a sustainable and efficient way, and the funding announced today will help ensure that railroad operations are compatible with safety and mobility in the communities through which trains move.”