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U.S.Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm
News |
Grade Crossing Improvement Grant Helps Advance Development of
High-Speed Rail Corridor in State of Washington
Contact: Steve Kulm
Telephone: 202-493-6024
Monday, August 16, 2004 (Washington, DC) The State of Washington will receive a $994,100 grant to improve highway-rail
grade crossings as part of a program to enhance safety and prepare federally designated
corridors for future high-speed rail operations.
"These grants will help prevent vehicle-train collisions and move us closer
to the day when high-speed rail can be a real option for travelers," said
Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Betty Monro.
Washington is part of the Pacific Northwest Corridor connecting Seattle to
Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The grant will be used to partially fund the improvement of several BNSF crossings
including: to provide new track circuitry at Fir Street, Riverside Drive, College
Way, and Hoag Road in Mt. Vernon; to conduct studies to close South Holgate
Street in Seattle; and to develop a plan to close or improve 15 private crossings
between Stanwood and Mt. Vernon. The funding also contributes toward construction
of a pedestrian crossing near First Avenue and Camilla Somers Park in Kelso
and a pedestrian underpass near the BNSF White River Trestle and East Valley
Highway in Auburn.
Nationally, there are ten high-speed rail corridors being developed that connect
cities in 28 states. These rail corridors are meant to provide intercity passenger
ground transportation that is as fast as air or automobile travel for trips
between 100 and 500 miles.
Washington is one of five states sharing $5.2 million to make improvements
to grade crossings in high-speed rail corridors. Similar grants are being released
in Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Since 1993, the program
has improved over 450 crossings nationwide.
The funding is made available under Section 1103 (c) of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The Federal Railroad Administration
and Federal Highway Administration jointly manage this grant program.
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