The federal government spends billions of dollars on bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure to direct traffic over, under and around railroad tracks. But for many residents and local officials, this is a poor way to ease congestion on roads frequently closed by freight trains.
To take advantage of federal funding, the community will have to find ways to cover some of the costs of expensive upgrades. Additionally, it may be difficult or impossible to build bridges and tunnels.
Some towns and cities have been successful in working with railroads to change service schedules or move tracks away from busy roads. But many local officials complain that railroads are often reluctant to help, leaving communities with little choice.
“Everyone loves trains and appreciates their economic benefits, but they’re tired of being held hostage,” said Elkhart County Commissioner Brad Rogers, Indiana. Told.
Ten years ago, when Mr. Rogers was sheriff, he sent an agent to issue tickets to crew members in southern Norfolk where a train was blocking traffic. The ticket temporarily reduced traffic congestion by drawing attention to the closed intersection. But the railroad sued the state, and the Indiana Supreme Court overturned a law that allowed local authorities to fine railroads for blocking railroad crossings.
The American Railroad Association, which represents major freight railroads, says its members are working with local authorities to reduce congestion at intersections wherever possible, but the problem is complex and the result of years of limited public funding for infrastructure development. said it was.
“When railroads began to connect countries, people put down roots and built communities around them,” the association’s senior vice president John Gray said in a statement. “On railroads, roads could cross tracks using flyovers rather than overpasses, as was standard in most other densely populated areas of the world. They wanted to save a few bucks, so they readily agreed.”
Most states regulate blocked intersections, but courts have overturned some of those laws, ruling that only the federal government can make and enforce such rules. Indiana and about 20 other states recently followed Ohio in asking the Supreme Court whether states can issue such regulations.
Congress has provided about $3 billion in 2021 to fund projects to ease congestion at frequently blocked railroad crossings. In June, the Biden administration awarded the first round of grants from the fund. approximately $570 millionwith improvements at over 400 intersections.
Houston will receive $37 million to build four underpasses and eliminate seven railroad crossings.Pelham, Alabama, near Birmingham, to fetch about $42 million build a bridge Remove two railroad crossings along the road that separates the city. Olathe, Kansas, near Kansas City, will receive about $18 million to build an overpass with sidewalks that will allow children to go to school and connect bikes and pedestrians to the trail system.
“What’s interesting at this point is that for the first time, we have concrete, committed funding, and a significant amount, to address this issue,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview.
Even before Congress made the funds available, some municipalities were finding ways to mitigate the impact of trains blocking railroad crossings. In Utah, a community group is building a pedestrian bridge that crosses three Union Pacific Railroad lines and two local transit lines near a high school in Salt Lake City. Traffic jams frequently block roads, forcing some residents to slip through or under trains.
However, some communities are unable to raise the money to match their bridge and tunnel projects or pay for their maintenance. In some areas, it may not be practical to build overpasses or underpasses.
Too many communities have opted for the cheaper solution.
Officials in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and Agawam sought federal funding to build bridges across railroad crossings along roads connecting the towns, but were unsuccessful. So authorities have to rely on signs with flashing lights to warn people when trains cross the road.
These lights were helpful, but they added congestion on other roads. And emergency medical workers are still forced to drive farther to avoid blocked intersections.
Agawam Mayor Bill Sapelli said, “We can’t even measure the damage it could have caused.” “If they didn’t take the shortest route and took a detour and someone couldn’t get there and it was just a matter of minutes, that would make a difference.”
Indiana Secretary Rogers recently visited a city using a system developed by Canadian company Trainfo. The company uses acoustic sensors and software to identify oncoming and stopping trains. That information can be sent to street signs, dispatchers, or social media feeds.
“We wanted to work with the railroad company to solve this problem, but apparently that’s not going to happen,” Rogers said. “So we try to think outside the box.”
Mark Walker contributed to the report.
