Evergreen Reporter

Grant from Cantwell-created, Murray-supported program will fund 32nd Street Underpass Project with second-largest award in the country; Seattle and Burlington also receive grants to study eliminating at-grade rail crossings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 31, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the City of Washougal will receive a $40,480,000 grant to fund design and construction of the 32nd Street Underpass Project. The project will reconnect Washougal's Addy Street neighborhood with the downtown and port area by reconstructing five key intersections along 32nd Street. 

The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. Sen. Cantwell authored this program and shepherded its passage through Congress as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

“This grade crossing is one of the busiest along the BNSF railroad line in the entire State of Washington, and it creates a real hardship for the Washougal community. When a train blocks the crossing, emergency vehicles can't get through, and traffic backs up onto State Route 14. Building a new railroad bridge and underpass structure between Main Street and F Place will connect the two halves of Washougal while helping the entire transportation corridor – both road and rail – operate more efficiently,” Sen. Cantwell said.

“This funding for Washougal is a really big deal and it will be put to good use, helping reconnect neighborhoods and delivering all kinds of major infrastructure improvements,” said Sen. Murray. “This investment will help ensure that goods get to where they need to be on time and make sure this crossing is safer and more effective for everyone. Grants like these are why I’ve fought hard to fund programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law when I’m writing and negotiating the Senate’s spending bills.”

The 32nd Street Underpass project will include a new railroad bridge and underpass structure between Main Street/B Street and Evergreen Way along the crossing. Elements of the project will include new roundabouts, intersection improvements, better pedestrian and bike facilities, and roadside stormwater management. The project will also help rail freight move more efficiently.

DOT announced more than $570 million for 63 projects across the United States today. The Washougal grant was the second-largest award in the nation, behind a $41 million award to fund a grade crossing project in Pelham, AL.

Two other grants were also awarded in the State of Washington: 

The City of Burlington will receive $2 million for a study to identify one railroad crossing to replace with an overpass, based on traffic conditions and proximity to housing.

The City of Seattle will receive $2 million for a study to evaluate the effect of closing two railroad crossings at S. Holgate St. in SODO. 

In April 2021, Sen. Cantwell introduced legislation to establish the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program to help states, cities, and Tribes plan and construct grade crossing separation and improvement projects. In June 2021, Sen. Cantwell led the legislation through the Commerce Committee as part of the Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021. This legislation was included in the November 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $3 billion over 5 years for this program. 

Sen. Cantwell has been a leading and vocal advocate for at-grade rail crossing reform and safety. In March of 2021, she released a report studying and assessing safety and efficiency concerns at at-grade railroad crossings, finding current federal programs are not sufficient to address these pressing issues of safety and congestion.

Original source can be found here.