The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has allocated more than $1.1 billion through its Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program to fund 123 rail projects across 41 states. These projects aim to improve or study over 1,000 grade crossings across the country.
The funding will be used to construct new railroad overpasses and underpasses, implement safety upgrades, and improve communities’ overall safety for pedestrians, motorists, rail workers, and passengers. In particular, overpasses and underpasses will reduce the risk of collisions between trains and vehicles, while also preventing blocked crossings that delay drivers and emergency responders.
One notable grant includes $204.2 million for the city of Columbia, South Carolina. This funding will support the final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the Assembly Street railroad separation project. The project will consolidate freight operations from two corridors into one, with improvements to Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX-owned infrastructure.
The FRA’s investment aims to enhance public safety and streamline rail operations.