More than 20 rail

Oct 23, 2023

$2.2 billion awarded to 162 projects nationwide

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ORANGEBURG, S.C. — More than 20 rail-related applicants — ranging from grade-crossing separation studies to a small piece of the Gateway Tunnel to funding for high-speed rail stations in California — are among the 162 projects to receive Department of Transportation grant funding announced today (Wednesday, June 28) under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, program.

Some $15 billion in requests were received for the $2.26 billion awarded. Half of the money went to projects in urban areas and half to rural areas, with 70% going to projects in areas defined as areas of persistent poverty or historically disadvantaged communities. Projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico received funding; the rail-related projects are spread across 16 states.

The awards were announced at an event in Orangeburg by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and other officials.

“Using the funds in President Biden’s infrastructure law, we are helping communities in every state across the country realize their visions for new infrastructure projects,” Buttigieg said in a press release. “This round of RAISE grants is helping create a new generation of good-paying jobs in rural and urban communities alike, with projects whose benefits will include improving safety, fighting climate change, advancing equity, strengthening our supply chain, and more.”

The complete list of grant recipients is available here. The rail-related projects include:

Courtland: Jefferson Street railroad bridge replacement, $1.6 million — Funding will play for planning and design for replacement of the current bridge over a Norfolk Southern rail line, which is structurally deficient and cannot handle heavy traffic such as buses and trucks.

Anaheim: Bridges to Transit, $5.07 million — The grant provides funding for final design and construction of five connections to Anaheim’s regional rail and bus transit center: two bridges for non-motorized transportation; an elevated “highline” trail; a regional trail extension; and realignment of a riverbank trail to separate bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Chula Vista: Palomar Street grade separation project, $21.5 million — Funds will pay for separation of a major street from the rail right-of-way used by passenger and freight traffic.

Fresno: High speed rail station depot renovation, $20 million — The project will preserve and modernize Fresno’s historic passenger station for use with the California high speed rail system, and provide infrastructure for electric vehicle charging and charging for transit vehicles.

San Bernardino County: Brightline West passenger stations, $25 million — Funds will pay for final design and construction of stations and associated facilities in Hesperia and Victor Valley for the planned Brightline West high speed service linking Las Vegas, Nev., and Southern California.

New London: Downtown multimodal improvements, $17 million — Restoration and renovation of New London’s Union Station is one of five elements of the project. Others are construction of a pedestrian bridge across a rail line to connect downtown to waterfront attractions; expansion of a parking garage; development of a transit hub; and construction of a high speed ferry terminal.

Miami: Port supply chain master plan, $5 million — Funding will complete planning and design studies for a Port Miami carbon neutralization plan for on-port operations and development of two inland cargo centers. That plan includes use of electric locomotives to move cargo from the port to the inland facilities.

Chicago: 95th Street Terminal improvements, $25 million — Will upgrade the rail electrical substation at the Chicago Transit Authority station at 95th street to support equipment for electric buses, including up to six overhead pantograph chargers to allow electrification of bus routes serving the terminal.

Savoy: Curtis Road grade separation, $22.7 million — 2 miles of Canadian National rail line will be elevated by approximately 15 feet, and Curtis Road will be lowered by about 5 feet, to create clearance for a railroad bridge to be built over the road. Other road improvements are also planned.

Perry and Spencer counties: Rail capacity project, $11.58 million — The project will allow the Hoosier Southern Railroad to replace approximately 14 miles of 120-year-old 75-pound rail with 115-pound rail, allowing the railroad to handle industry-standard 286,000-pound freight cars.

Lexington: Bridge replacement, $8.1 million — Will replace an 86-year-old overpass carrying an R.J. Corman rail line that has damage from vehicle strikes, increasing clearance to allow more direct freight traffic to downtown. The project will also include improve sidewalks, add transit stops, and address stormwater collection.

New Orleans: Downtown transit center and corridors, $24.8 million — Funds will go toward construction of a downtown transit center for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority’s bus and streetcar network, as well as improvement to the corridor connecting to that center.

Baltimore: Mondawmin station improvements, $20 million — The project will make state-of-good-repair improvements and other enhancements at the Mondawmin station served by the Metro SubwayLink line and several bus routes. The project also includes street improvements, a bicycle trail, and an improved pedestrian right-of-way.

Kansas City: Transit planning, $4.5 million — Funding will provide for evaluation of an east-west, high-capacity transit system between the University of Kansas Health System facility and the Truman Sports Complex. The RideKC Streetcar is among agencies collaborating in the study.

North Bergen: Tonnelle Avenue bridge and utility project, $25 million — Funds will pay for relocation of utilities and construction of an approximately 100-foot roadway bridge to carry Tonnelle Avenue over the rail right-of-way leading to the planned Hudson River Tunnel of the Gateway Project.

Manville: Grade crossing study, $48,000 — Will fund a feasibility study to address blocked crossing and pedestrian mobility at several at-grade rail crossings.

Philadelphia: SEPTA trolley modernization and streets project, $25 million — The trolley modernization portion of the project will involve a 2.75-mile corridor, with a focus on areas where crashes have led to multiple fatalities in recent years.

Orangeburg: Railroad Corner redevelopment, $22.76 million — The project featured in the announcement of this year’s RAISE grants involves construction of a pedestrian bridge over two state highways and a Norfolk Southern rail line, as well as a multimodal transit hub and a new parking structure.

Austin: Commuter rail double tracking, $18 million — Will fund design and construction of a second main on the existing commuter railRed Line from Onion Street in the west to East Timbes in the east. The project will also include a second station platform at Plaza Saltillo and signal, positive train control, and grade crossing improvements.

Dallas/Plano: DART Silver Line Rail trail, $25 million — The Dallas Area Rapid Transit project will fund 5.2 miles of trail along the commuter rail Silver Line between Meandering Way in Dallas and Shiloh Road in Plano and will help provide direct connections between four Silver Line stations.

Wasatch Front area: Station improvements, $24.5 million — Funds will provide improved sidewalks, wider shoulders, and bicycle accommodations at 10 light rail stations and approximately 13 bus stops in the metropolitan area.

Blaine: Bell Road grade separation, $9.5 million — Funds will go toward completion of 30% design, environmental reports, and right-of-way acquisition for replacement of an at-grade crossing with BNSF’s Bellingham Subdivision main line. The grade-crossing separation will also involve realignment of ramps on Interstate 5, a multi-use path, and transit, flooding, and aquatic habitat improvements.