Klobuchar, Franken, Nolan Announce Nearly $375,000 for Railroad Crossing Safety in Duluth

Press Release

Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representative Rick Nolan, today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $374,598 to the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority for railroad crossing safety in Duluth.

"Rail crossings not only inconvenience drivers, but they can also threaten public safety," Klobuchar said. "I've worked hard to improve safety at rail crossings, including passing a provision into law last year to ensure that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation provides tools and best practices to states to mitigate the safety risks posed by blocked rail crossings. This grant will help increase safety for both drivers and pedestrians in Duluth."

"Each and every day, Minnesotans are affected by heavy rail traffic cutting through their communities," said Franken. "And during my 'Rural Infrastructure Listening Tour' of Minnesota, I worked with many of those communities to address rail safety, noise, and traffic. So I'm pleased that Duluth will receive new support to upgrade its rail crossing system, which will go a long way towards improving safety for drivers in the area."

"This grant is great news for Duluth. Railroads are a critical part of our commerce transportation and economy, and we must ensure that they operate with everyone's safety in mind," Nolan said. "Replacing and upgrading the warning systems will help prevent tragic accidents involving pedestrians and cars, supporting a more harmonious multimodal transportation system."

This grant will be used to replace and upgrade the warning systems at four grade crossings in Duluth to improve pedestrian safety and mitigate the risks associated with cars idling over the tracks. The four crossings in Duluth are 45th Avenue, Railroad Street, 47th Avenue, and McCulloch Street.

Klobuchar is a leader in the Senate on the effort to improve rail safety and service across the country. Her provision to help states address blocked rail crossings was signed into law last year as part of the bipartisan long-term transportation legislation. Her provision helps improve safety at rail-highway crossings by ensuring that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation provides tools and best practices to states to mitigate the safety risks posed by blocked rail crossings. In 2015, Klobuchar also sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to work collaboratively with rail carriers and first responders to establish an information-sharing system that will help communities plan for and respond to rail incidents. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees federal rail issues, Klobuchar successfully pushed for a hearing where she pressed federal rail officials on the need to move forward on critical safety measures to strengthen rail infrastructure and protect communities along rail routes. She has also pushed the Senate Appropriations Committee for increased funding for additional rail inspectors and for a stronger track inspection process to prevent derailments.

Franken is a strong supporter of investing in modern infrastructure, which he says is one of the most critical components to economic growth. He recently held a "Rural Infrastructure Listening Tour" that stopped in communities all across Minnesota to hear about local infrastructure needs--including rail, roads, bridges, Broadband Internet, water systems, and other services. And for several years, he's worked hard to address rail safety issues on behalf of Minnesota. He fought for provisions in a bipartisan, long-term transportation bill to improve rail safety, and he also pressed to protect communities from disaster as a result of train derailments--for example, the Department of Transportation heeded Franken's call strengthen rail tankers carrying highly volatile crude oil from the Bakken Region. As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Franken has advocated for reducing the volatility of that oil before it's shipped, for rerouting dangerous trains around populated areas when possible, and for improving information sharing with state and local officials so that emergency responders can be prepared if there's an accident or derailment.

As the only Minnesotan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and on the Pipelines, Hazardous Materials, and Rail Subcommittee, Rep. Nolan has led the effort in the House of Representatives to ensure safe and efficient transportation in Minnesota, specifically in terms of rail safety. Nolan helped secure a quiet zone for the northern Minnesota town of Ranier, which has been suffering from rail congestion issues. Nolan also took a lead role in drafting and passing the FAST Act for long-term surface transportation funding.

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