Train Accident Newsroom

FRA Grants Rail-Related Suicide Research, and High Speed Rail Grade Crossing Upgrades

Friday, August 24, 2007 (Washington, DC) DOT Announces $3.1 Million for New Transportation Research. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration announced the award of a total of $3.1 million for seven U.S. universities to work with the Department to solve national and regional transportation challenges through research, education and technology transfer. Universities receiving $550,000 from the Department are the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and a combined program run by the University of Denver with Mississippi State University. Universities receiving $408,300 from DOT are Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan Technological University, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and North Carolina State University. Contact: Roger Lotz: (202) 366-2246.

17 States Receive Grant Funding to Improve Grade Crossings in High Speed Rail Corridors. Federally designated high-speed rail corridors in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin will share a total of $9.2 million in grants for highway-rail grade crossing safety improvements. The grants are jointly coordinated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and support the installation of warning lights, crossing gates and other engineering solutions, such as separating the tracks from the roadway to help prevent motor vehicle-train collisions along rail corridors where high-speed trains may one day operate. Visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/hazelimtab.htm for detailed information about each grant by state, or contact: Doug Hecox, FHWA, (202) 366-0660 or Steve Kulm, FRA, (202) 493-6024.

Maritime Administration Cuts Red Tape, Clears Obstacles for Seaport Expansion The Maritime Administration team managing the Port of Anchorage development project succeeded in gaining approval in record time for the multi-million dollar port expansion of 135 acres on the Cook Inlet waterfront. The Army Corps of Engineers project permitting process often takes 7 to 10 years, but MARAD specialists accomplished the regulatory task in just 4 years. The Port of Anchorage Intermodal Expansion Project is scheduled for completion in 2013. Contact: Shannon Russell at 202-366-5807. Contact: Steve Kulm or Warren Flatau Telephone: 202-493-6024