The next steps for the Fort Street railroad crossing north of Van Horn Road grade separation projection, which was awarded a $73 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, are announced Jan. 28 during an onsite press conference with U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-6th District) and other local officials.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-6th District) met with local leaders Jan. 28 at the Fort Street and Van Horn Road railroad crossing to speak about the grade separation project.
The $73 million project, funded by the Federal Railroad Administration, will provide a grade separation, which is aligning junctions that intersect at different heights, to prevent the disruption of the flow of traffic, and can consist of overpasses, underpasses, or a combination.
The single-track railroad crossing is owned by the Canadian National Railway, which is headquartered in Quebec. The company serves Canada and the midwestern and southern United States.
Dingell said the much-needed infrastructure investment was recognized by her late husband, John Dingell Jr., who initiated the effort to get the grade separation funded.
“One of the last acts of the Biden administration was to announce the Federal Railroad Administration awarding more than $73 million to the Michigan Department of Transportation to complete a road grade separation between M-85 and Canadian National Railroad in Trenton,” she said. “This funding, to build an overpass right here to separate vehicle traffic from the crossing, was made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law.”
Dingell said President Donald Trump has said he is committed to an investment in the country’s infrastructure.
She emphasized how the railroad crossing impedes emergency vehicles and school buses on a daily basis.
“Currently, police, ambulances, emergency services and residents deal with significant wait times when trains are passing,” Dingell said. “Emergency responses services to the Level 2 trauma center at Corewell Health, the only Level 2 trauma center Downriver, less than just a mile down the road, is seriously impacted at this crossing. People have died because this crossing was blocked.”
She said she hopes Trump will not disappoint the community by trying to revoke the funds.
“We all agree that safer intersections are critical and worth federal investment,” she Dingell said. “These dollars make a difference in communities. They are not partisan dollars.”
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-6th District, at podium) speaks about the next steps for the Fort Street railroad crossing grade separation project north of Van Horn Road Jan. 28 during an onsite press conference with Adam Penzenstadler (left), Michigan Department of Transportation Taylor transportation service manager; Zach Kolodin, chief information officer with the state of Michigan; Trenton Mayor Steve Rzeppa; and state Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-4th District).
Mayor Steve Rzeppa said people Downriver are pleased to see “the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“In just a few years, thanks to the Herculean efforts of Congresswoman Dingell, the federal government, Senator (Darrin) Camilleri and MDOT, these long train delays at Fort Street and Van Horn will no longer be something we have to deal with on a daily basis,” he said. “The gutting feeling of seeing first responders and ambulances stuck at the train crossing on the way to Corewell Health will be a thing of the past.”
Rzeppa said parents worry when school buses are stuck at the crossing and they don’t know where their children are or when they will arrive home.
“This major investment in the quality of life here and having our tax dollars brought home to have something done will make such a tremendous impact for generations to come,” he said.
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-4th District) said blocked railroad crossings have been an issue for decades.
“For me it’s a big win because we are in a moment where we are showing that government can actually solve people’s problems,” he said. “We are delivering on the promises that we have all made, and yes, it takes a lot of time and it’s a little frustrating when we see these major infrastructure projects take several years, but just know that we’ll be in a position where you won’t have to worry about this railroad crossing ever again if you live Downriver, if the new president keeps that funding where it was awarded.”
Camilleri said if Trump yanks the funding, he is disappointing the people in Trenton who voted for him.
“Mr. President, this is the time to put your money where your mouth is, and invest those dollars that belong right here to the community that we all care about,” he said.
Camilleri reiterated that the project will take time to invest in the proper design and engineering to make sure that the project is one that the entire community can support.
Zach Kolodin, chief information officer for the state of Michigan, said residents deserve to be able to access their hospitals without delay and to get to work without being late.
He said Downriver is particularly overburdened by rail traffic.
Adam Penzenstadler, Michigan Department of Transportation Taylor transportation service manager, said they will begin with the preliminary engineering and environmental clearance process to evaluate the best possible solution for the railroad crossing.
“I expect that process to take us about 24 months,” he said. “Once we determine what is the best feasible option out here, we will go through and do our final design, and that design process takes about 24 months, so we have potentially four years to wait before potentially putting shovels in the ground.”
Penzenstadler said MDOT will meet with the community during the process to make sure that the final design works for everybody.