$1.4 Billion In Federal Funds to Improve Rail Safety and Service
Rail Infrastructure 092623
The Biden Administration announced more than $1 billion dollars in funding for rail infrastructure safety.
In total, $1.4 billion will go toward 70 projects in 35 states.
The projects will increase community safety through:
- track improvements
- bridge rehabilitations
- fewer highway-rail grade crossings
- upgrades on routes carrying hazardous materials
- and more
This announcement comes after a series of high-profile rail accidents including February's derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, however, none of the funding is going to that community, specifically. An administration official said that's because there were no grant applications from the town.
Notably, Ohio is getting more than $26 million dollars in program funding. Nebraska will benefit from funding to modernize the Cornhusker Railroad, with track improvements, grade crossing updates and a railcar repair facility.
Selected projects also improve connectivity, reduce shipping costs, increase resiliency to extreme weather, reduce emissions, and support workforce development.
For full details, visit the DOT announcement
There are more than 200,000 rail crossings in the U.S. Hear from rail details from AgriTalk: