Feds allocate $245 million to reduce hazards at rail crossings

The Federal  Highway Administration (FHWA) yesterday allocated $61 billion in fiscal-year 2024 apportionments for 12 programs that support critical infrastructure, including rail, roads, bridges and tunnels.

The funding includes $245 million for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program, which aims to reduce hazards at grade crossings.

Known as Section 130, the program has been connected to a significant decrease in fatalities at crossings, according to the FHWA. From 2000 to 2019 (the most recent data available), crossing fatalities have decreased 32%. That's despite an increase in the vehicle miles traveled on roads as well as freight- and passenger-rail traffic, department official said in a press release.

The FY24 FHWA apportionments are being awarded to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The investments utilize funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021. The $61 billion in funding for FY24 is the third year of funding under the IIJA and represents an increase of $17.6 billion in formula programs as compared to FY21, the last fiscal year before the IIJA was passed.

"These historic investments in American infrastructure give states the flexibility they need to determine how to allocate funds for a range of transportation projects such as improving safety for all road users, replacing aging bridges and reducing carbon emissions," said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt.