The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded more than $3.2 million to the state of Utah in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program funding. Nationally, the RCE program will provide over $570 million in funding for 63 projects in 32 states. This inaugural round of funding will address more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, improve safety and make it easier to get around railroad tracks by adding grade separations, closing at-grade crossings and improving existing at-grade crossings where train tracks and roads intersect, the{mprestriction ids="1,3"} department said.

“The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program is another critical tool that FRA is using to make a lasting impact on the safety and transportation needs of communities nationwide,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “With these project selections and the many more that are to come, we will save lives and reshape infrastructure in ways that allow individuals to move through their neighborhoods seamlessly and safely.”

Over each of the next four years, additional RCE Program funding will be made available annually. Project selections for other grant programs will be announced in the coming months.{/mprestriction}