colorado and new mexico in line for new rail transportation funding

Both Colorado and New Mexico are slated to receive a combined $9 million in federal funding for three rail infrastructure projects.

The Federal Railroad Administration, operating under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is awarding $1.9 million in grant support for the construction of a railroad bridge spanning the Animas River in Colorado.

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad project will be built adjacent to an existing structure as part of a gauge rail line connecting the cities of Durango and Silverton.

Just over $5.6 million in funding is going to an improvement project for Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line between the town of Lamy in northern New Mexico and Albuquerque. That project will include the replacement of existing rails, the rebuilding of three grade crossings, along with the timber decks of two railroad bridges.

A second New Mexico project is seeing $1.3 million to complete the preliminary engineering for an overpass grade-separation project in Santa Teresa.

Completion of that overpass, which is used by the Union Pacific Railroad, is expected to improve the line’s efficiency while also reducing the likelihood of rail-vehicle accidents.

Altogether, the Federal Railroad Administration is awarding just over $320 million for rail infrastructure projects nationally.
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In a statement, Elaine Chao, Department of Transportation Secretary, said the new funding will “upgrade U.S. rail infrastructure and enhance rail safety in communities across America.”

​By Garry Boulard

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