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Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the signing of a final agreement for a $33.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant that will help fund the Colton Crossing project in the San Bernardino, Calif., area.

The project calls for elevating two Union Pacific Railroad tracks over two BNSF Railway Co. mainlines in Colton, Calif. The rail lines currently cross at street level, inhibiting train movements through the area, including trains heading to and from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to the USDOT.

In 2008, more than 110 trains — including those operated by UP, BNSF, Metrolink and Amtrak — passed through the Colton Crossing daily, making it one of the nation’s busiest street-level crossings, USDOT officials said in a prepared statement.

“This [TIGER grant] will help to shorten the time needed for goods to get to markets all over the world, and improve safety for motorists and train operators alike,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.