EVERETT, WA – Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it awarded an $18,090,000 grant to the City of Everett to eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings that pose significant risks to public safety through the construction of an overpass and new integrated roundabout near the Smith Island railroad terminal in Everett.

The $18 million grant is part of $1.17 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant funding the FRA awarded to 123 projects in 41 states, including $22.6 million for five projects in Washington state. Established for the first time by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, RCE Grants help communities eliminate highway-rail grade crossings to reduce train-vehicle collisions and blocked rail crossings and improve the movement of people and goods.

Larsen and Franklin Applaud Funding

Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin applauded the funding and its importance to improving safety and reducing congestion in the city.

“Thanks to the hard work of Mayor Franklin and the Everett business community, Everett has the funding it needs to improve safety and reduce congestion and pollution at two busy railroad crossings in the city,” said Larsen, who led a letter to FRA Administrator Amit Bose in support of Everett’s grant application. “Once completed, these improvements will make it easier and safer for first responders to address emergencies, commuters to get to and from jobs and school, and trucks and trains to transport goods to market and keep the economy moving in Northwest Washington.”

“We’re excited to receive this crucial federal funding for our Smith Island Safety project, a public-private partnership with the large-scale industrial firms located on Smith Island,” said Franklin. “This investment and the land donations from our partners improve access to an underutilized portion of Smith Island, supporting future economic development and job growth for our community. We want to thank Congressman Larsen for his continued advocacy in support of infrastructure investments that create economic opportunities.”

Larsen Focused on Improving Rail Safety

Larsen has long been focused on improving rail safety in Northwest Washington and across the country. As the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Larsen supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made $102 billion available for rail improvement projects nationwide. In March 2024, Larsen led a roundtable discussion on rail safety, and in July 2024, Larsen participated in a hearing that examined the state of rail safety in the aftermath of the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

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