ARIZONA NEWS

4 Arizona rail projects, including 1 in Gilbert, receive $46.4M in federal funding

Jan 14, 2025, 3:00 PM

PHOENIX – Four Arizona rail projects, including one in the Valley, were awarded a total of $46.4 million in federal infrastructure funds, officials announced last week.

The funding will go toward crossing safety and mobility improvements in Gilbert, Marana, Yuma and the Hualapai Tribe reservation.

The Arizona grants were announced Friday as part of a $1.1 billion investment in 123 projects in 41 states, the single largest outlay in grade crossing safety in the history of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The money comes from FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, which was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Safe and efficient transportation is crucial for Arizona’s communities and economy,” Sen. Mark Kelly said in a press release. “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.”

What Arizona rail projects received federal funding?

In the only Phoenix-area project receiving funds, Gilbert will use its $2.5 million award to help evaluate the safety and efficiency of 14 highway-rail grade crossings and explore the possibility of removing three of them. A grade crossing is a spot where a street or highway crosses railroad tracks at the same level.

The largest of the Arizona awards is for the Hualapai Tribe, which is getting nearly $23 million. The funds will go toward creating a grade-separated overpass and installing anti-intrusion fencing along the rail corridor in the Mohave County community of Peach Springs.

Meanwhile, the town of Marana, north of Tucson, was awarded $20.4 million to develop and design a proposed crossing improvement project.

The smallest grant is for Yuma County, which received $640,000 to study the possibility of removing three Union Pacific track crossings.

The latest wave of rail infrastructure funding comes after the four Arizona projects received $60 million from the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements in October.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Peoria Police department...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Peoria police search for vandals who caused $30-40K worth of park damage

The Peoria Police Department is asking the public for help in finding the suspect responsible for vandalizing and causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage to a local park.

7 hours ago

Phoenix-Pittsburgh nonstop flight offered through Allegiant...

Serena O'Sullivan

Fly high: Phoenix travelers getting new nonstop flight option for Pittsburgh through Allegiant

Planning a business trip? You can now book a Phoenix-Pittsburgh nonstop flight through Allegiant at Sky Harbor International Airport.

8 hours ago

fentanyl pills, fentanyl bust Phoenix...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Phoenix man charged after police seized 100,000 fentanyl pills

A man in Phoenix was pulled over by police during a routine traffic stop, which led to the seizure of about 100,000 blue fentanyl pills.

9 hours ago

Thomas Galvin AZ Political Podcast...

Jim Sharpe

AZ Political Podcast: Thomas Galvin on public funding for sports teams, speed of election results

On this week's edition of AZ Political Podcast, Thomas Galvin discusses public funding for sports teams and how election results can be sped up.

10 hours ago

US 60 between Superior and Miami will be closed until Friday due to blasting work that was performe...

David Veenstra

US 60 between Superior, Miami reopens following blasting

US 60 between Superior and Miami has reopened following blasting work that was performed in the area.

11 hours ago

Maricopa County 1 of 4 pharmacists sentenced for fraud...

Serena O'Sullivan

Maricopa County pharmacist among 4 sentenced in fraud conspiracy

A Maricopa County pharmacist named Raef Hamaed was one of four pharmacists sentenced for their roles in a $13 million conspiracy, officials said.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

4 Arizona rail projects, including 1 in Gilbert, receive $46.4M in federal funding