January 10, 2025

Kelly, Gallego Announce Over $46 Million for Railroad Crossing Safety and Infrastructure Upgrades Across Arizona

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego announced that Arizona will receive $46,477,751 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support rail safety infrastructure projects in Yuma, Marana, Gilbert, and on the Hualapai Tribal lands. The funding will be used to remove or upgrade outdated rail crossings, enhancing safety, easing congestion, and improving the movement of goods and people across the state.

“Safe and efficient transportation is crucial for Arizona’s communities and economy,” said Kelly. “This funding to upgrade old rail crossings will protect drivers, improve the movement of goods and people, and create jobs, ensuring a safer and more reliable transportation system for everyone.”

“Unsafe railways threaten the livelihood of Arizona’s residents and businesses alike. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant will enhance railway safety and keep our economy moving by protecting the communities these railways pass through,” said Gallego.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make historic investments in rail infrastructure projects that create jobs and deliver goods to communities nationwide. By improving rail systems, we’re enhancing economic opportunities, boosting local economies, and ensuring that critical goods and services are delivered more efficiently. This $46 million investment is laying the foundation for a stronger, more reliable rail transportation in Arizona,” said Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07).

The Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program, established under the Kelly-championed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, invests in projects that enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve mobility by eliminating at-grade rail crossings. These grants support efforts to design, plan, and construct critical infrastructure improvements, ensuring communities have safer and more efficient transportation networks.

See below for breakdown of projects:

Project Name	Applicant State	Applicant Name	Amount awarded	Project Description
Yuma County Elimination of 3 UPRR Crossings	Arizona	County of Yuma	$640,000	The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to examine the feasibility of grade separating three crossings in Yuma County, Arizona. The project will explore viable solutions and develop design concepts for eliminating these crossings over the Union Pacific track at Avenue 9E, Fortuna Road, and County 29E. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety as the project will eliminate at-grade crossings, increase reliability of emergency responders, and improve mobility. Yuma County, the City of Yuma, and the Town of Wellton will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects and the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
Hualapai Tribal Diamond Creek Road Grade Separation Project	Arizona	Hualapai Tribal Council	$22,989,751	The proposed project was selected for Final Design and Construction and includes activities to create a grade separated overpass and install anti-intrusion fencing along the rail corridor within the traditional lands of the Hualapai in Peach Springs, Arizona for the Hualapai Tribal Council. The project aligns with the selection criteria by resulting in one or more grade separated crossings as the project will construct a grade separated overpass/bridge structure and install fencing to improve safety in an area with a history of accidents. The Hualapai Tribal Council and BNSF will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects on Tribal Lands and the statutory set-aside for projects in counties with 20 or fewer residents per square mile. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas or on Tribal Lands, and specifically for projects in counties with 20 or fewer residents per square mile.
Town of Gilbert At-Grade Crossing Elimination Study	Arizona	Town of Gilbert	$2,448,000	The proposed project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to evaluate the safety and efficiency of 14 highway-rail grade crossings in Gilbert, Arizona. The project will conduct stakeholder engagement and develop an alternatives analysis recommend actions to improve safety and efficiency of the corridor including elimination of three grade-separations. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety as the project will improve mobility of people and goods and increase safety by potentially eliminating 3 crossings. The Town of Gilbert will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects.
I-10 Cortaro Farms Road Interchange Grade Separation with UPRR	Arizona	Town of Marana	$20,400,000	The proposed project was selected for Project Development and Final Design and includes activities to support grade crossing improvements on Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) infrastructure in the Town of Marana, Arizona. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving mobility as the project will form the basis for efforts to improve mobility for all users, reduce congestion, improve safety, improve air quality, facilitate goods movement, and create a better quality of life for those in the region. The Town of Marana will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match.