WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announces more than $272 million in grant funding to 10 rail projects in 10 states. Funding is provided through FRA’s Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (SOGR Program) and will help to repair and rehabilitate railroad infrastructure around the country.
“This administration is committed to investing in the enhancement and safe operation of our country's passenger rail networks,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The SOGR Program provides funding to repair, replace or rehabilitate publicly or Amtrak owned or controlled railroad equipment, infrastructure and facilities. The SOGR Program is intended to improve intercity passenger rail performance. Eligible projects include upgrading infrastructure such as track, switches, bridges and highway-rail grade crossings; stations; and equipment, including passenger cars.
In the Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 SOGR Program Notice of Funding Opportunity, the FRA mandated a minimum 20 percent non-Federal match requirement. The selected projects went above and beyond this requirement. The department and the FRA consistently work to balance investments and encourage collaborative partnerships between Federal and non-Federal entities to fund rail projects and maximize the returns to benefit local communities. FRA and the grant recipients are leveraging more than $190 million in non-Federal funds with these selections.
The Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 SOGR Program awards in Construction Digest’s area are as follows:
Illinois – A-32 Bridge Replacement Project, Up to $17,840,000
The proposed project will construct a new grade-separated double-tracked rail bridge over Milwaukee Avenue, immediately north of the Grayland Metra Station on Metra’s Milwaukee District-North Line in Chicago, Illinois. The project will replace the existing structure, originally constructed circa 1899 and rated in poor condition, with a new double-track bridge that will return the crossing to a state-of-good-repair and provide future maintenance and operating cost savings.