Rep. Cuellar Announces $4,000,000 in Federal Funding for Rail Safety Improvements in Laredo
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Dec 24, 2023, 0 Comments
Courtesy Arturo Olivarez,
Laredo, TX – U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) announced $4,000,000 in federal funding for the City of Laredo to implement rail safety improvements. The federal grant is provided through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (CRISI), funded by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a law Dr. Cuellar helped pass in 2021.
With the federal funds, the City of Laredo will partner with the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad to enhance reliability and safety on existing lines while consolidating outdated lines to decrease vehicle wait times at train crossings. Canadian Pacific Kansas City will match the federal funds with $1,000,000 in private funds.
“Laredo is the nation’s #1 port of entry, and railroads are crucial to transporting goods entering from Mexico across the United States,” said Dr. Cuellar. “I voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 to provide critical funding to upgrade our nation’s rail infrastructure, a priority for border communities and international trade. I’m pleased to see the City of Laredo and Canadian Pacific Kansas City putting these federal dollars to good use by enhancing safety and reliability on existing routes and rerouting outdated lines to improve vehicle congestion downtown. Thank you to FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City for working with me to improve Laredo’s infrastructure.”
“For years, the CRISI Program has helped to maintain and modernize America’s freight rail network. Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FRA announced the largest investment in rail safety and rail supply chain upgrades ever awarded through FRA’s CRISI program with more funding and more projects on the way,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “The Downtown Laredo Rail Corridor Safety Planning Project, in partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad (CPKC), will help tackle issues facing the Laredo community by advancing efforts to close certain at-grade crossings, build grade separated structures, and install other gate and safety improvements that will improve efficiency and mobility on a vital cross border trade route, and expand capacity on CPKC’s rail network.”
“As Laredo continues to grow in population and increase its international trade footprint, enhancing the safety and relieving congestion from railway lines is well-received. I want to thank Congressman Cuellar and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad for their public/private collaboration on this infrastructure project. This will enhance the quality of life for all Laredoans,” said Dr. Victor Treviño, Mayor of Laredo.
The project will help relieve congestion and prevent accidents in downtown Laredo occurring at the 31 existing at-grade crossings by closing five crossings, building two separations, and upgrading safety measures at 24 other crossings. The project is estimated to save 2.29 million hours in travel delay with the construction of the two new separations.
