Sean Duffy backs $1.1B crossings

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday, April 24, that the U.S. Department of Transportation will make $1.1 billion available for railroad-crossing safety projects nationwide. (transportation.gov) The money will flow through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, which backs projects where roads and train tracks meet at the same level. The department said more than 2,000 crossing incidents and 300 fatalities occur each year. (transportation.gov) The notice covers projects that build overpasses or underpasses, upgrade warning technology, relocate track so a crossing can close, or fund public education on how to cross tracks safely. Applications are due by June 8, 2026. (transportation.gov) A grade separation is the simplest version of the idea: put the road above or below the railroad so cars and trains never intersect. That removes the crossing itself instead of trying to make it safer with gates, lights or signage. (transportation.gov 1) (transportation.gov 2) The program also targets blocked crossings, where long trains can trap drivers, school buses or ambulances on one side of town. The Transportation Department said Duffy’s criteria will prioritize safety, access to emergency services and the movement of people and goods. (transportation.gov) The money is not a brand-new program. The Federal Railroad Administration opened more than $1.1 billion in the same Railroad Crossing Elimination program in July 2024 under President Joe Biden, using money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (fra.dot.gov) That 2024 notice said the grants were the only competitive discretionary federal program dedicated to railroad-crossing safety and efficiency. It also said at least 20% of that round was reserved for rural communities or Tribal lands. (fra.dot.gov) Duffy’s announcement fits the broader Transportation Department plan his agency published in March, which says the department will “prioritize the safety” of transportation systems while modernizing aging infrastructure and cutting delays. (transportation.gov) The rail announcement also landed as the Trump administration weighed possible aid for Spirit Airlines. Semafor reported this week that Duffy told Reuters the government should not “put good money after bad” into the carrier. (semafor.com) For cities, counties and states with dangerous crossings, the next date is June 8. That is when applications for the $1.1 billion round are due. (transportation.gov)