Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents Saint Holdings
RLGR Staff
U.S. Secretary Elaine L. Chao this week announced the Trump Administration will invest $900 million in American infrastructure through—a mouthful—the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. BUILD funding supports roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation.
The funding has been awarded to 55 projects in 35 states, including two in Arizona
Those are the Phoenix Sky Harbor Northside Rail Expansion Project and the Inland Port Arizona Improvement Project, with the grant going to Florence.
Here are the details on the Arizona projects:
City of Phoenix $24,000,000 for Phoenix Sky Harbor Northside Rail Expansion Project, which will construct an approximately 2.3-mile-long trench to lower the freight railroad tracks and eliminate five at-grade railroad crossings on the North side of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. 24th Street will extend over the trench to provide new, grade-separated access between Air Lane and points north.
The project enhances safety by closing multiple at-grade crossings and converting another to a grade-separated crossing along this corridor, eliminating the risk of crashes between trains and motor vehicles. The project enhances economic competitiveness by helping to reduce congestion and delays at the 24th Street crossing, which currently handles approximately 16,000 vehicles per day. The project is supported by a broad array of stakeholders in the area, a result of strong regional partnerships between the public and private sectors, USDOT said.
Pinal County
$15,373,698 for Inland Port Arizona Improvement Project
This project will make improvements to State Route (SR) 87 in proximity to the intersection at Houser Road; improvements at the Houser Road and Hanna Road railroad crossings; improvements on Hanna Road from SR 87 to Vail Road, and on Houser Road from SR 87 to Vail Road; and the addition of a fire lane on Houser Road. These improvements are intended to support the construction of an approximately 2,700-acre inland port.
Safety benefits are realized from reduced truck traffic and highway relief. The project will reduce life-cycle costs and support state of good repair. Improving the intersection will lead to an enhanced quality of life for the drivers along this corridor. The project will facilitate new and substantial opportunities for the residents of Coolidge and Pinal County and will reduce commute times for residents, improving safety and overall quality of life.
