Additional Railroad Avenue Underpass Funding Released
Washington, D.C. – Indiana Senators Dick Lugar and Evan Bayh joined Congressman Pete Visclosky Wednesday in announcing that the Department of Transportation has released an additional $991,307 in funding today, to help construct an underpass at a hazardous East Chicago intersection. These monies were awarded in addition to the $2,427,500 announced April 10, for a total of $3,418,807.
The funding, approved by Congress and signed into law in 2001, will help mitigate a dangerous railroad crossing, where there have been four accidents in the past three years. In addition, the crossing cuts off one quadrant of the city to emergency service vehicles when a train is coming through. The underpass will solve both problems.
“This funding will help the motorists and residents in East Chicago by improving traffic flow and heightening safety in the project area,” Lugar said. “I am pleased these additional federal highway funds were secured for this effort.”
“Building an underpass will help make this dangerous intersection safer for the residents of East Chicago,” Bayh said. “I’m grateful to Senator Lugar and Congressman Visclosky for their help in securing resources for this important project.”
“Every second counts in an emergency,” Visclosky said. “I am very pleased that these additional funds have been made available to the City of East Chicago to mitigate this crossing. Public safety is a major priority for me, and I extend heartfelt thanks to Senator Lugar and Senator Bayh for helping me to push this much-needed funding through Congress.”
The Railroad Avenue/CSX Railroad intersection is located immediately adjacent to a major transportation artery, State Road 312. Daily, more than 9,000 automobiles cross this set of tracks, which accommodates as many as 100 trains per day. The likelihood of another major accident increases annually as the volume of traffic grows due to continued development nearby.
Additionally, ambulance and other emergency services in East Chicago have been severely compromised because of this highway-rail grade crossing. Because of the unique configuration of the intersecting railroad tracks, one quadrant of East Chicago has been left without emergency services that can bypass active train tracks. Response times in this area are much slower than in the rest of the city, as emergency dispatchers are at the mercy of the train schedule. In 2000, 123 emergency service calls were delayed on account of trains.
Lugar, Bayh, and Visclosky will seek an additional $1.5 million for this project in Fiscal Year 2003, which would mean a total federal commitment of $5 million. The total cost of the project is estimated at $7.2 million, with the City of East Chicago providing the remaining $2.2 million in funding.