FRA grant to fund safety upgrades along Florida rail corridor

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has signed off on a $15.4 million grant to fund grade crossing improvements along the Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline rail corridor in Broward County, Florida. 

Broward County and six cities — Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors and Pompano Beach — are adding $3.9 million in local matching funds to bring the total project investment for the Broward County Sealed Corridor Project to $19.4 million, Brightline officials said in a press release.

The project calls for design and construction of supplemental safety measures at 21 crossings, including exit gates and/or medians. The enhancements will advance the goal of achieving a fully “sealed corridor” while helping to prevent motorists from driving around lowered gates, Brightline officials said.

A year ago, Broward County officials announced the grant, which will be issued through the FRA's Railroad Crossing Elimination program. The funds come from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Congress passed in November 2021.

Sixty trains per day pass through the corridor's crossings, according to Broward County. Nearly 50% of collisions are the result of motorists driving around crossing gates, county officials said.

Brightline provides intercity passenger-rail service between central and south Florida.