CHESTERTON — Municipalities and counties throughout the state will have a chance at a piece of $125 million to improve railroad safety at their locale.
Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state and local officials announced the competitive Local Trax Rail Overpass Program on Monday afternoon.
The program will provide at least $125 million for projects aimed at making railroad grade separations, closing crossings and other safety enhancements.
Communities can apply for the funding from May 1 through Aug. 31. Any community awarded a grant will have to provide a 20 percent match.
"It is an all-aboard day because we are rolling out another all-aboard program," Holcomb told the crowd gathered behind the town's street department facility along a set of railroad tracks.
The Local Trax plus the Community Crossings programs, Holcomb said, are "long term visionary" programs that will "catapult us out in front of the competition. Community Crossings and this are working hand in glove."
Holcomb said the program will lead to more economic development opportunities across the state.
State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, said Indiana is in the top five of the most grade crossings in North America, and Northwest Indiana is home to the some of the most critical crossings.
The program, he said, is a "big deal."
Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness said the collaborative program is a commitment to all four corners of the state and will allow the state to remain the "crossroads of America" while improving delays, congestion and safety.
Local officials in attendance welcomed the program.
Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas already had a project in mind, saying his city will likely apply for an overpass project to connect the Lauth development to the lakes area.
"It is fair to say the program is more relevant to the municipalities," said Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, adding the county may look at a project or two to submit to the program. "We are really lucky in Northwest Indiana to have the state representatives we have to move transportation issues forward."
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman Wilson said she believes the program will not only provide "opportunities for development, but will also provide opportunities to increase safety" including the opportunity to close some grade crossings in the city.
Darrel Wilson, assistant vice president of Norfolk Southern, said his company is partnering in the program by not only working with locales as they fill out grant applications, but also looking at how they can financially assist communities in appropriate projects.
Wilson said projects to consolidate or close crossings can be an incentive to the railroad firms.
"Things of this magnitude all start with a good idea and good ideas need good leadership," Wilson said, adding the railroad and government officials have a "shared vision" for the project.