Last year, Sen. Ossoff announced this grant funding opportunity to help eliminate dangerous railroad crossings in Georgia through the bipartisan infrastructure law
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff today announced new Federal resources to upgrade rail safety and eliminate block rail crossings.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are delivering Federal resources through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, created and funded through the bipartisan infrastructure law, which provides Federal funding for projects to address safety concerns at rail crossings through a competitive U.S. Department of Transportation grant process.
These Federal investments will help advance key projects in Atlanta, Cornelia, Powder Springs and Gainesville aimed at enhancing safety, reducing traffic delays, and improving accessibility for Georgia families.
“Blockages at rail crossings are not just an inconvenience, but they can be a matter of life and death,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Every day, the bipartisan infrastructure law is upgrading transportation, energy, sewer and water, and broadband internet across our great state.”
“Our communities thrive when we are better connected, which is why I have been working to strengthen rail safety and tackle the dangerous conditions posed by stalled trains in Georgia,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver historic investments for Georgians in every corner of the state. These latest grants will help alleviate stalled trains and promote greater mobility for all.”
Please find a summary of Federal grants Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are delivering below:
| Recipient | Description | Asistencia con |
| City of Atlanta Safe Crossing Study | This project will evaluate 23 at-grade crossings in Atlanta, identifying opportunities to improve safety, mobility, and access to services and economic opportunities. The study will involve stakeholder engagement, environmental reviews, and feasibility studies to prioritize future improvements. The City of Atlanta will provide a 20% non-Federal match for the project. | $1,200,000 |
| City of Cornelia Pedestrian Bridge | This project will develop plans for an ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, connecting Cornelia’s historic downtown to parking and community services. By eliminating the risk of train-related injuries, the project will enhance safety, accessibility, and mobility. The City of Cornelia will contribute a 20% non-Federal match, with funding qualifying for rural and planning project statutory set-asides. | $1,149,600 |
| Powder Springs Dallas Road Corridor Crossing Closure Project | This initiative will assess alternatives for closing three highway-rail grade crossings in Cobb County. The project will include stakeholder engagement and conceptual engineering to improve safety and freight rail fluidity. The City of Powder Springs, Georgia Department of Transportation, Cobb County, and Norfolk Southern will jointly contribute a 20% non-Federal match. | $800,000 |
| Navajo Circle Life/Safety Grade Separation Planning Project | In Gainesville, Hall County will assess safety improvements for the Navajo Circle crossing, including potential grade separation and track relocation. The project aims to enhance emergency response times, reduce crossing incidents, and more. Hall County will provide a 20% non-Federal match, with the project qualifying for rural and planning project statutory set-asides. | $319,360 |
Sen. Ossoff continues working to improve mobility and safety for Georgia families.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff announced a funding opportunity to help eliminate dangerous railroad crossings in Georgia through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
In 2023, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered Federal resources for Chatham, DeKalb, and Gwinnett Counties through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock also delivered $12 million in new Federal funding for a project in Jenkins County that will improve mobility by helping eliminate railway-highway crossings through the bipartisan infrastructure law’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with the Federal Railroad Administration as part of the Agency’s ongoing investigation into trains causing traffic delays, submitting testimonials from cities, counties, and constituents across the state encountering blocked railroad crossings, harming residents’ abilities to work, school, the grocery store, doctor’s offices, and more.
###
