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Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced it applied for TIGER II discretionary grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to help fund 12 projects. Applications were due Monday for the TIGER II program, which is similar to the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“We selected projects based on their ability to create jobs, leverage new private sector investment, and further transform Ohio into a premier national and global logistics location,” said ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris in a prepared statement.

The rail-related projects and grant applications include:
• a $35 million request to help fund the city of Cincinnati’s streetcar project;
• a $20.2 million joint request with the city of Columbus to construct supporting infrastructure — including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, a parking facility, bus transit shelters and lighting — for the city’s 3C “Quick Start” regional passenger-line station;
• a $16.4 million request to build an intermodal facility in downtown Springfield to serve local transit routes, bike trails and regional rail service, including the city’s 3C Quick Start line station;
• a $16.2 million request to make improvements to the South Point intermodal facility along the Ohio River with dock improvements, a new overhead bridge crane, supporting road infrastructure and new rail-line connections; and
• a $1.2 million joint request with the Ohio Department of Development to assist local communities in planning activities near the state’s eight proposed stations for the 3C Quick Start line.

Meanwhile, the state of Oregon has issued a $7.8 million "Connect Oregon" grant to the Port of Coos Bay to help rehabilitate the Coos Bay rail line. The port will use proceeds to upgrade railroad swing-span bridges and repair trestles.

The port has submitted a request to the USDOT for $13 million to help fund repairs to rail, ties and ballast on the line, which closed in 2007 and is scheduled to re-open in spring 2011.