January 10, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it has awarded more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 123 rail projects, improving or studying more than 1,000 highway-rail crossings nationwide. Of that amount, six projects in Texas received nearly $80 million in federal grants.

The announcement is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history. Combined with previous rail investments announced in the last four years, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects in 41 states and for Amtrak.

Texas grants were awarded to Harris County (Houston); Longview; McKinney; Copperas Cove; Clifton and for Farwell and Texico in the Western Panhandle for a total of $79,769,376.

Rail grants announced 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.   

FRA Administrator Amit Bose said "the grants reverse a half-century of federal underinvestment in America's rail network and  helping people in communities big and small get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, and workplaces safely and without delay."

Here are the Texas grants:

Eliminating Rail Crossings in Texas and New Mexico Project (Up to $73,061,388) - Texas Department of Transportation

The proposed project was selected for Right-of-Way Acquisition and Construction and includes activities to grade separate one crossing and close two additional crossings along BNSF track in Farwell, Texas, and Texico, New Mexico. The project will construct a new Texico bypass roadway alignment to allow for grade separation and crossing closures. The project aligns with selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will reduce blocked crossings, increase access for emergency responders, and reduce dwell time for motorists, therefore reducing the impact of exhaust emissions on the environment. New Mexico Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Transportation, and BNSF will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas. 

Wilmeth/McIntyre Road Grade Separation Project (Up to $3,139,500) City of McKinney

The proposed project was selected for Project Planning, Project Development, and Final Design and includes activities to grade-separate McIntyre Road from Dallas Area Rapid Transit tracks in McKinney, Texas. The project will develop pre-NEPA studies, surveys, deliverables, and subsequent environmental activities to develop a grade separation. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and connectivity, as the project will reduce future incidents, especially considering forecasted growth. The City of McKinney will contribute the 30 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas and $1,404,000 of this project funding amount qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects. 

East End Triangle R.A.I.L.S. Plan: Resilience Access and Improved Logistics for Safety  (Up to $2,000,000) Harris County (Houston)

The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to comprehensively assess train impacts at 14 at-grade crossings in the East End Triangle community in Houston, Texas. The study will include data analysis, coordination with railroads, emergency services, other critical stakeholders, and extensive community engagement to recommend improvements. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will improve safety and mobility in the community. Harris County and the City of Houston will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects.

Longview At-Grade Rail Crossing Elimination and Safety Study (Up to $485,244) City of Longview

The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to study the 33 at-grade rail crossings in Longview, Texas. The project will determine the feasibility for eliminating at-grade crossings or improvements to make them safer and more efficient for freight trains, road users, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will determine the actions to be taken to make each crossing as safe as possible for the traveling public while not impeding freight and passenger rail transportation. The City of Longview will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects and the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.

Copperas Cove Railroad Flyover Planning Study (Up to $331,200) City of Copperas Cove 

The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to determine the best alternative for providing at least one grade-separated crossing in Copperas Cove, Texas. Project activities will include stakeholder engagement and an alternatives analysis to examine three at-grade crossings to explore grade-separated solutions for those locations. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving mobility, as the project will address blocked crossing issues, including improving emergency services response times, decreasing travel times, and reducing train-vehicle incidents. The City of Copperas Cove and BNSF will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects. 

Clifton Railroad Grade Separation and Crossing Closure Study (Up to $266,800) City of Clifton

The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to explore the closure and grade separation for two crossings in Clifton, Texas. This project will develop a feasibility study to determine how these crossings can be closed, improved, supplemented with grade-separated crossings, or replaced with grade-separated crossings. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will result in safer and more efficient movement of people and goods through the city. The City of Clifton, BNSF, Goodall-Witcher Healthcare Foundation, and Lutheran Sunset Ministries will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects and the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas, and specifically for projects in counties with 20 or fewer residents per square mile.

“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. 

Photo credit: Texas Rail Advocates - FRA Administrator Amit Bose at 2024 Southwestern Rail Conference