Senator Peters Announces Nearly $119 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Rail Infrastructure Across Michigan
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investing $119 million to support five major commercial and passenger rail improvement projects across Michigan. These projects are funded by the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which was funded through the bipartisan infrastructure law Peters helped enact.
“Michigan communities and businesses depend on rail infrastructure for safe and efficient transportation of essential goods across the state, as well as to regional and global partners,” said Senator Peters. “These five projects will strengthen our railways and expand shipping capacity while creating jobs and spurring economic growth.”
Below are descriptions of each project:
- Detroit RECHARGED - Realizing Environmental Changes Happening Around Railroads Generating Equitable Development: The Michigan Department of Transportation will receive $67,440,000 to improve and expand capacity of the Livernois Intermodal Facility by installing 17,200 feet of new rail track. The project will also make important site enhancements on at the Livernois Intermodal Facility, including new pavement and replacing aging diesel gantry cranes with new hybrid and fully electric models.
- Huron Subdivision Track & Service Improvement Program: The Lake State Railway Company will receive $27,130,810 to install approximately 52 miles of continuous welded rail between Pinconning and Alpena. Funding will also improve 34 highway-rail crossings and upgrade train signal devices at 13 locations along the route.
- Leveraging Ludington: The City of Ludington will receive $16,400,000 to make improvements along a key rail route between Ludington and Grand Rapids, and enhance the Ludington Rail yard to improve efficiency and reliability of safe movement of goods throughout the area.
- Wolverine and Blue Water Capacity Enhancement: The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) will receive $8,384,000 to restore functionality of the historic double-track on Amtrak’s Michigan Line between Glenwood Road and Niles in Wayne Township. This project will maximize performance and improve service speed.
- Enhancing Grade Crossing Safety in Rural Areas through FRA’s LiDAR Data, Machine Learning, and Collaborative Risk Assessment for Railroads and Highway Agencies: Michigan State University will receive $428,133 to conduct research aimed at improving the safety of rural rail crossings. Researchers will utilize Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data provided by the Federal Railroad Administration to analyze rural crossings and develop new approaches for identifying roadway hazards.
The CRISI grant program invests in railroad infrastructure projects that improve safety, efficiency and support economic development in communities across the country. Peters has consistently advocated for the CRISI program and fought for Michigan applicants. Last year, he announced a $20 million CRISI grant awarded to MDOT for replacement of the Manistee River Bridge in Manton. As Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, Peters held a field hearing in Lansing earlier this year to highlight the importance of the bipartisan infrastructure law and grant programs like CRISI for improving Michigan’s transportation infrastructure across the state. More information about the CRISI program can be found here.
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