This week, The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced funding that will improve at-grade railroad crossings across the country. Norfolk Southern was a key partner in over a dozen projects selected for this inaugural round of funding through the FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program.

“At Norfolk Southern, we live and work in the communities we serve across our 22-state network, and strong collaboration with local leaders is critical,” said Mike McClellan, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Norfolk Southern. “The FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program is an important partnership, helping improve safety and enhancing the mobility of the communities where we operate. The grants announced this week will have a positive, lasting impact on the safety of our employees and the communities we serve for years to come.”

The RCE Program provides grants to local and state governments for the separation, closure, relocation, or improvement of at-grade crossings, which are points where railroad tracks intersect with a road on the same level. These grants will lead to the improved safety of motorists, pedestrians, and train crews by adding grade separations (by building a bridge or an underpass, for example), closing at-grade crossings, and improving existing at-grade crossings where collisions may occur.

The following projects are among those being funded for planning, engineering and/or construction at high-impact locations:

• DeKalb County, GA: Conversion of At-Grade Crossing on Constitution Road to Grade Separated Crossing
• City of Decatur, IL: Brush College Road and Faries Parkway Grade Separation Project
• City of Hammond, IN: Governors Parkway Railroad Overpass Project
• City of Gary, IN: Buffington Harbor Gateway Project
• City of Peru, IN: Peru Grade Separation Feasibility Study
• Town of Schererville, IN: Kennedy Avenue Railroad Overpass Project
• Wells County, IN: Wells County Hoosier Highway Crossing Elimination Project
• Durham, NC (Durham County Government): Durham Rail-Crossing Engagement, Planning, and Innovative Revitalization (Durham REPAIR)
• Fostoria, OH (Ohio Rail Development Commission): Unlocking the Iron Triangle: Grade Separation of S Town Street
• City of Cleveland, TN: 3rd St SE and Norfolk Southern Railroad Grade Separation