The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded (Jan. 10, 2025) more than $16.9 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to two rail projects in South Dakota. 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 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:
I-90 Exit 46 (Elk Creek Road) Railroad Crossing Removal Project (Up to $15,968,864)
South Dakota Department of Transportation
The proposed project was selected for Construction and includes activities to eliminate the at-grade railroad crossing of Elk Creek Road and the Rapid City, Pierre, and Eastern Railroad in western South Dakota. The project will create a new bridge with a different alignment over the railroad. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and connectivity, as the project will improve connectivity and access in the rural communities of the Town of Piedmont and the City of Summerset, South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Transportation will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas, and specifically for projects in counties with 20 or fewer residents per square mile.
Sioux Falls Railroad Corridor Analysis and Crossing Safety Study (Up to $1,000,000)
South Dakota Department of Transportation
The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to conduct a comprehensive study of 130 at-grade crossings within the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Area in Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties, South Dakota. This project will conduct a corridor analysis and crossing safety study of highway-rail and pathway grade crossings to prioritize safety improvements and potential closures. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will reduce the incidence of train-vehicle collisions and increase travel efficiency for both trains and cars. The South Dakota Department of Transportation 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.
The full list of FY 2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program selections can be found here. More information about the grant program is available here.
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