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Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) recently announced that New Mexico was awarded a $1.23 million federal grant to help expand cross-border freight-rail service to the southern part of the state.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration grant will fund a study to help determine the feasibility of creating a bi-national rail bypass from south of Juárez, Mexico, to Santa Teresa, N.M., to eliminate rail congestion between Juárez and El Paso, Texas. The study will focus on environmental, engineering and financial issues, as well as impacts on security, transit time and international trade.

“Expanding commercial rail access in Santa Teresa would help increase international trade with Mexico and boost economic development in the region,” said Bingaman in a prepared statement.