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7/15/2025
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) last week announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has released funding for a number of northwest Washington transportation projects, including a grant to remove a culvert under a BNSF Railway Co. line.
The grant awards were announced previously during President Joe Biden's administration, but the funds were held pending review and obligation under President Donald Trump's administration. Release of the funds will enable local governments to advance work as they expected, Larsen said in a press release.
Rail-related projects receiving the recently released funds include:• $18.1 million for the city of Everett to eliminate two grade crossings that pose significant risks to public safety through the construction of an overpass and new integrated roundabout near the Smith Island railroad terminal (awarded in fiscal-year 2024); • $2 million for the city of Burlington to identify which of the city’s 16 grade crossings is most suitable for a grade separation to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion (awarded in FY 2023); and • $1.2 million for the Nooksack Indian Tribe to remove a culvert in Jones Creek under a BNSF line in Acme (awarded in FY 2022).
"I will continue to push [U.S. Transportation] Secretary Duffy to release and obligate the funding for other northwest Washington projects that received awards, such as the $19.5 million grant for Skagit Transit to renovate its maintenance, operations and administration facility and the $2 million grant for the city of Lynden to complete planning for its project to relocate Pepin Creek, both awarded [in] FY25," Larsen said.