U.S. DOT grants $19.4 million to short lines

U.S. DOT grants $19.4 million to short lines   The Federal Railroad Administration last week awarded grants totaling $19.4 million to help eight states and local governments relocate and upgrade rail lines.
  The Rail Line Relocation program assists projects that improve community livability and promote economic development by addressing the effects of rail traffic on safety, roadway and pedestrian traffic, overall quality of life and local area commerce. Funding for the grants is made available through annual appropriations and requires a 10 percent contribution from the project sponsor.
  The agency received 51 applications for the funding.
  Projects that received funding are:
  • Port of San Francisco, $2.97 million to improve a one-mile-long spur connecting the Caltrain mainline track to the port’s rail yard. The port authority said the current condition of the spur track “limits the frequency, weight and length of trains that can use the track, causing delays.” The improvements will allow freight trains to operate at higher speeds and clear the mainline more quickly, significantly reducing delays to Caltrain commuter trains and future high-speed rail trains. The port has two rail-served cargo terminals that will benefit from these improvements. Pier 80 is San Francisco Bay’s only breakbulk cargo terminal and Pier 94/96 currently is a dry-bulk cargo terminal. The port has two rail-served cargo terminals that will benefit from these improvements.
  • Providence & Worcester Railroad’s Willimantic Branch, $5.3 million to upgrade track in Sprague, Conn., so that freight trains can increase speed from 10 mph to 40 mph and move goods more efficiently for local shippers.
  • Maryland Department of Transportation, $1.7 million to expand a yard used by the Canton Railroad Co. to serve industrial customers in and around the Port of Baltimore. Current switching operations on the short line railroad often cause major motor vehicle traffic delays, requiring traffic to be rerouted around the yard. The improvement will permit more efficient switching and create additional car storage, which is designed to help reduce traffic congestion.
  • Florida Central Railroad, $2.2 million to upgrade a segment of track in Lake and Orange Counties, which will enable trains to increase speed from 10 mph to 40 mph. The upgrade, coupled with additional track and bridge repairs, will allow freight service to be restored to certain areas.
  • Minnesota Department of Transportation, $1.47 million to improve and extend a municipally owned rail spur connecting an industrial park in Wadena. Extending the track will enable a local shipper whose current location forces it to route traffic close to a high school, to relocate its operations to the industrial park.
  • Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, $2.7 million to rehabilitate and improve 40 miles of track along the Warren Branch of the Arkansas Midland Railroad. The planned improvements will remedy poor track conditions caused by inadequate drainage and heavy freight loads, which have contributed to washouts, broken rails, derailments and instructions for trains to reduce speeds.
  • Springfield, Mo., $1.9 million to relocate an existing junction that runs through the center of the city. The project will enable the removal of 23 highway-rail grade crossings, increasing road safety and improving railroad operational performance.
  • Alaska Railroad, $1.14 million to reduce the curvature of the railroad’s mainline adjacent to the Native Village of Eklutna. The realignment and improvements will increase track speeds, reduce noise and improve operating safety and efficiency. A new access road will also allow vehicles to access trains for inspection and car repair, and provide tribal members access to their property.
  On Tuesday, the FRA opened a third round of RLR funding for $11.5 million. Applications are due within 30 days of the announcement. There are no minimum or maximum amounts dollar thresholds for the awards and the FRA, part of the Department of Transportation, may choose to award a grant for less than the amount requested. The notice of funding availability can be found in the Federal Register.