Share This Article
Article Summary
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $5.3 billion nationwide rail investment at Cincinnati’s Union Terminal on Aug. 14. The funding includes $40 million for Fairfield’s Symmes Road Grade Separation Project, which will eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings. The national program will also fund new Amtrak trainsets, locomotive upgrades and safety improvements at more than 1,000 railroad crossings.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $5.3 billion rail investment Friday during an event at Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the Federal Railroad Administration funding as part of a nationwide effort to improve rail safety and modernize passenger rail infrastructure.
The funding will support projects in 23 states. Federal officials said the investment will improve railroad crossings, replace aging Amtrak equipment and upgrade locomotives serving major passenger routes.
The announcement also gives the Cincinnati region a significant share of the federal investment through a $40 million award for Fairfield.
Rail investment targets crossings and Amtrak equipment
The federal funding will focus on three major areas of railroad infrastructure. The largest component will address railroad crossings and related safety improvements across the country.
Federal officials said the program will:
- Close more than 30 at-grade railroad crossings.
- Upgrade more than 1,000 crossings with new infrastructure and technology.
- Purchase 43 new Made-in-America Amtrak trainsets.
- Replace aging passenger rail equipment in high-demand corridors.
- Overhaul 41 locomotives serving Amtrak’s Midwest and Pacific routes.
The Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA, oversees federal railroad safety programs and passenger rail investments. The agency selected projects after receiving 103 eligible applications requesting more than $11.6 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The new trainsets will support Amtrak routes that carry high passenger demand. The locomotive upgrades will focus on equipment already operating on Amtrak’s Midwest and Pacific routes.
The federal government said the projects will improve safety while supporting the broader modernization of the nation’s passenger and freight rail network.
Rail investment addresses dangerous grade crossings
Grade crossings remain a major concern for railroad safety officials. These crossings allow vehicles and pedestrians to cross railroad tracks at the same level as trains.
“Grade crossings — those are the intersections where roads cross railroad tracks at grade — [are] the second leading cause of death in the rail industry. Nationally, there are more than 2,000 accidents a year and 200 deaths a year at these at-grade rail crossings,” Duffy said in a report by WVXU.
The new federal funding will target crossings where eliminating the roadway-railroad conflict can improve safety. Grade separation projects typically place a roadway over or under railroad tracks.
The Fairfield project follows that approach at one of the two local crossings. The project will build an overpass at Symmes Road while eliminating the North Gilmore Road crossing.
Fairfield’s project page says the two crossings have recorded a combined 16 crashes, eight fatalities and nine injuries, based on FRA Grade Crossing Inventory data. The city also says more than 40 train movements occur each day along the corridor.
$40 million rail investment targets Fairfield crossings
Fairfield will receive $40 million from the newly announced federal program for the Symmes Road Grade Separation Project. The project involves the City of Fairfield, the Butler County Transportation Improvement District and CSX Transportation.
The federal money will help move the project toward construction. Fairfield officials have been working for years to address the two adjacent railroad crossings.
The city’s project information identifies Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road as the two crossings targeted for elimination. The preferred plan calls for an overpass at Symmes Road and the closure of North Gilmore Road at the tracks.
The project would separate roadway traffic from trains instead of requiring motorists to cross the tracks directly. That change could reduce the potential for crashes and delays when trains travel through the area.
Fairfield officials also expect the project to improve emergency response times. Trains can block the crossings for extended periods, creating another challenge for motorists and first responders.
The city previously sought federal funding to advance engineering, environmental review and other project development work. Fairfield’s Public Works Department now describes the broader project as a nearly $50 million effort and says the city is seeking federal assistance.
Fairfield rail project has advanced through public input
The Symmes Road project has already gone through several planning stages. Fairfield and the Butler County Transportation Improvement District evaluated alternatives for both railroad crossings before selecting preferred approaches.
According to Fairfield’s public involvement report, 93 percent of respondents supported an alternative that would build an overpass at Symmes Road. A majority favored the Veteran Drive alignment for the overpass.
The same public input process examined options for North Gilmore Road. The preferred project would close the North Gilmore Road crossing instead of building another roadway bridge.
Fairfield’s preliminary design shows a proposed bridge carrying Symmes Road over the CSX tracks. The design also includes changes around North Gilmore Road and nearby streets.
The project sits along the CSX Cincinnati Terminal Subdivision. Fairfield says the rail corridor connects Louisville, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Detroit and also carries daily Amtrak service between New York and Chicago. (
The corridor also supports significant freight activity. Fairfield estimates more than 36,000 jobs sit within three miles of the Symmes Road crossing, underscoring the road’s role in regional access and commerce.
Rail investment could improve traffic and emergency response
The Fairfield project is expected to address more than railroad safety. City officials say eliminating the crossings could reduce traffic congestion and delays caused by passing trains.
Symmes Road carries an estimated 13,000 vehicles per day, while North Gilmore Road carries about 9,000, according to Fairfield. The city says trains frequently block one or both crossings for several hours at a time.
Removing the two at-grade crossings would create a continuous separation between roadway traffic and rail operations. The project could also improve reliability for freight trains moving through the corridor.
The city expects the changes to support emergency responders traveling through Fairfield and surrounding communities. Faster access could be especially important when trains occupy the existing crossings.
The project also fits into a broader effort to eliminate at-grade crossings along the regional rail corridor. Fairfield says other crossing closures and grade separation projects have already received tens of millions of dollars in investment.
Rail investment expands beyond Cincinnati
The Fairfield award represents one piece of the larger federal rail program. The $5.3 billion investment will fund projects designed to improve railroad safety and passenger rail service nationwide.
The Amtrak portion will provide 43 new trainsets for high-demand corridors. Those trainsets will replace older equipment and support continued passenger rail operations.
The program also includes $140 million for locomotive overhauls, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The upgraded locomotives will serve Amtrak’s Midwest and Pacific routes.
The crossing improvements will address locations where roads and rail lines intersect. Federal officials say reducing those conflicts can prevent crashes while improving traffic flow.
For the Cincinnati region, the most immediate local impact will come through Fairfield’s $40 million project. The funding moves a long-planned safety project closer to the construction phase.
The Cincinnati Exchange previously reported on local infrastructure and transportation projects affecting the region. Readers can also review earlier Cincinnati infrastructure coverage for additional context on transportation improvements and federal funding.
What happens next for the Fairfield project?
Fairfield and its regional transportation partners will continue advancing the Symmes Road project through design and construction preparation. The city says the project has moved from preliminary engineering toward detailed design, right-of-way work and construction.
The $40 million federal award provides a major funding source for that work. However, the city has described the overall project as nearly $50 million, meaning additional project financing and development steps remain.
The project also must progress through design, environmental and other required approvals before construction can begin. Fairfield has already completed public outreach and selected a preferred alternative.
The federal announcement gives the Cincinnati-area project a significant boost as officials work to eliminate two at-grade crossings. Once completed, the project would separate Symmes Road traffic from trains and close the North Gilmore Road crossing.
The nationwide rail program will also bring improvements to Amtrak equipment and more than 1,000 railroad crossings. Federal officials said the investment aims to make rail transportation safer while modernizing infrastructure across the country.
FAQs
What is the $5.3 billion rail investment?
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration will distribute $5.3 billion for rail projects across 23 states. The funding covers railroad crossing improvements, new Amtrak trainsets and locomotive overhauls.
How much funding will Fairfield receive?
Fairfield will receive $40 million for the Symmes Road Grade Separation Project. The project will address the railroad crossings at Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road.
What will happen to the Fairfield railroad crossings?
The project will build an overpass carrying Symmes Road over the railroad tracks. It will also close the North Gilmore Road crossing.
Why are railroad grade crossings a safety concern?
Grade crossings place roads and railroad tracks at the same level, creating potential collision points. Federal officials cited more than 2,000 accidents and about 200 deaths each year at grade crossings nationwide.
