The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded almost $10 million in grants through funding from the Railroad Safety Grants for the Safe Transportation of Energy Products (STEP) to eight states. The funding will enable them to upgrade and increase the safety of the railroad crossings that are along the energy routes.
Anthony Foxx, U.S. Transportation Secretary, stated “These grants will reduce accidents and fatalities at railroad crossings and help modernize our nation’s rail system. Through a combination of these grants, education and enforcement, we can – and will – achieve our goal of preventing accidents and deaths at railroad crossings.”
The second leading cause of railroad related fatalities is collisions that occur at railroad crossings. FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg stated “One of FRA’s top priorities during the last year has been to reverse the uptick in fatalities at railroad crossings because most of these collisions and deaths are preventable. Today’s grants will upgrade the warning systems at critical crossings and close others where crude oil and other energy products are transported.”
FRA Awards Nearly $10 Million to Increase Safety at Railroad Crossings Along Energy Routes
