FRA awards $2.5M grant to Port KC for grade crossing project

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a $2.5 million Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant to a grade-crossing elimination project at the Port of Kansas City, Missouri.

The project is designed to to improve public safety, reduce traffic delays and enhance mobility by eliminating three high-risk grade crossings in the Berkley Riverfront, Port KC officials said in a press release.

RCE funds will support the 30% design of a multimodal flyover overpass at the Lydia railroad crossings south of Berkley Parkway and west of Interstate 29. The Lydia railroad crossings consist of three rail lines with no sidewalks or safety measures in place, and have long posed safety concerns for motorists, emergency responders and pedestrians, port officials said.

The opening of CPKC Stadium amplified the safety and timing situation and more growth is coming, they added. Berkley Riverfront will more than double in residents, visitors, apartments and businesses over the next decade.

Although the Kansas City Streetcar and bicycle/pedestrian bridge both will be operational next year, the last remaining mobility issue exists in the southeast corner of Berkley Riverfront. Currently, the site is the location of train crossings 24 hours a day and can delay travelers up to 40 minutes.

When stopped, people often climb between the rail cars. The project will remove this bottleneck, improve emergency response times, eliminate the hazard and support economic development in the surrounding area, port officials said.

Completion of the 30% design is expected in 2026. Port KC will continue its work with Burns & McDonnell during this design phase.