City of Monroe News Release
Monroe awarded federal grant to study railroad crossings for safety and congestion improvements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2025
CONTACT: Jakeh Roberts, Public Works Director at 360-863-4502 or jroberts@monroewa.gov
MONROE, Wash. – The City of Monroe has been awarded $320,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program to study five railroad crossings for safety and traffic congestion improvements. Analysis will include current conditions, feasibility of grade separation or closure, preliminary design recommendations, and alternative construction options for the crossings located at: Fryelands Boulevard Southeast, 179th Avenue Southeast, North Kelsey Street, North Lewis Street and East Main Street. The City is contributing 20%, or $80,000, to the study which is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.
“This grant allows us to take an in-depth look at possibly eliminating at-grade crossings, reducing train-vehicles crashes, improving mobility, and enhancing safety at key roadways in Monroe,” notes Mayor Geoffrey Thomas. “We are grateful for the support from U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, and Patty Murray, and U.S. Representative Suzane DelBene (1st District) for this incredibly important study as it is one of the City Council’s legislative priorities.” Monroe is one of five jurisdictions in Washington State to receive this grant funding.
“I’m excited to bring home these federal dollars from the spending bills I negotiated into law—these awards will make railway crossings safer across Washington state, helping people and goods to get where they need to go, reducing pollution, and saving people precious time that would otherwise be spent stuck in traffic. I’ll always fight to make sure Washington state gets its fair share of federal funding from the laws we pass in Congress, and that money goes out the door to projects that will make the biggest difference in our communities,” notes Sen. Murray.
Sen. Cantwell adds, “At-grade rail crossings bisect communities, separate whole neighborhoods from emergency services, and delay people and goods from getting where they need to go. With freight rail traffic expected to grow 44 percent by 2050, these investments will help local governments across the State of Washington unblock these crossings.”
“This federal investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law can help Monroe improve safety at several railroad and roadway intersections. This study will look at how the City can reduce traffic delays and improve emergency response times. I look forward to working with leaders in Monroe to enhance safety for pedestrians, drivers, and rail workers alike,” Rep. DelBene said.
BNSF Railway operates a crucial freight mainline that cuts through Monroe, dividing the city in half. The northern half hosts large retail, commercial services, and single-family homes. The southern half includes the historic downtown and most medical, industrial, educational and municipal facilities, along with affordable housing and multi-family residences. Each day, up to 24 trains run through Monroe disrupting traffic flow, including public transit, and affecting access to, goods, services, employment, and emergency resources.
The FRA has awarded more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 123 rail projects, improving or studying more than 1,000 highway-rail crossings nationwide.
For more information, contact Jakeh Roberts, Public Works Director at 360-863-4502.
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