Hammond, Ind., will be among cities receiving part of more than $570 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration to eliminate points where railroad tracks intersect with roads.
Funds from the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program will award $7,029,392 to the Governors Parkway Railroad Overpass Project in Hammond, according to a June 5 news release.
“The residents of Hammond, IN consistently have to deal with roads blocked by stopped trains, with no way to cross,” U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Twitter. “We're building an overpass so people driving, walking or biking can get where they need to go safely.”
Hammond’s project will involve construction of a centrally located overpass and elimination of “two grade crossings where Parrish Avenue and Arizona Avenue intersect with Norfolk Southern Railway’s rail line in the city of Hammond,” the release reported.
“Given its proximity to Chicago’s vast rail network, this area has persistently dealt with blocked crossings, congestion and connectivity challenge,” the release said. “The new overpass and road alignment, called Governor’s Parkway, will provide safe and reliable passage for drivers, pedestrians and emergency responders.”
Among features of Governor’s Parkway will be “one lane of vehicle travel in each direction and a multi-use path for pedestrians and bikers,” the release reported.
The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program will fund 63 projects in 32 states. These projects span various states, including Texas, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Iowa and Washington. There was $127.5 million awarded to projects in rural areas or on Tribal lands, the release said.
“This inaugural round of funding will address more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, improve safety and make it easier to get around railroad tracks by adding grade separations, closing at-grade crossings and improving existing at-grade crossings where train tracks and roads intersect,” the release said. “Last year, there were more than 2,000 highway-rail crossing collisions in the U.S. and more than 30,000 reports of blocked crossings submitted to FRA’s public complaint portal.”
The projects funded in the program's first year will enhance the quality of life in communities by creating safer rail crossings, allowing people to travel to their homes, schools, businesses, hospitals, fire stations and workplaces without being stranded or delayed by trains, according to the release.
The funded projects include building or upgrading physical infrastructure at railroad crossings, planning activities and project development and design activities to establish a pipeline for future funding, the release said. Each project aims to address specific challenges in its respective location. Examples include constructing underpasses, bridges and overpasses, as well as eliminating grade crossings to enhance safety and mobility.
