Duluth, GA — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07) announced that the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will be awarded up to $888,000 to conduct a feasibility study on three crossings on CSX track in Gwinnett County. This funding comes from the Federal Railroad Administration and was made possible through the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, a law which McBath enthusiastically supported in 2021.
“Once again, our community is receiving needed federal investments thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” McBath said. “This grant from the Federal Railroad Administration will provide critical insights into the feasibility of eliminating unsafe or dangerous railroad crossings in our community. I am grateful to the Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of this study in our community and I look forward to the impacts it will have on future projects aimed at making our roads safer for all.”
“As a model community for transportation management and long-range planning, Gwinnett County takes great pride in the connectivity and safety of our roads,” said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “These federal funds will shore up our ability to study key railroad crossings and explore equitable, efficient and safe alternatives that ensure our residents, businesses and visitors keep moving throughout Gwinnett. I’m grateful to our partners at the U.S. DOT and Congresswoman McBath for yet another significant investment in Gwinnett’s future.”
“I'd like to thank Chairwoman Hendrickson and Congresswoman McBath for their leadership and continued support for transportation improvement projects needed in our community,” said Gwinnett County Transportation Director Lewis Cooksey. “The funds from this grant, along with our local sales tax dollars, will help advance projects that improve safety and reduce congestion. We look forward to beginning a study of these important intersections of our local infrastructure.”
Authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the purpose of the Railroad Crossing Eliminations Program is to provide funding for highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. The three crossings that will be studied experience different challenges - safety, future traffic increases, and curved approaches. The project aims to determine feasible construction alternatives that address safety, connectivity, mobility, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic equity. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is providing a 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects.