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Whitefish wins federal planning grant for railroad crossing study; council forms task force
Summary
The city received a $400,000 Federal Railroad Administration planning grant toward a $500,000 railroad‑crossing safety and planning project; council approved the proposed task force and selected Councilor Steve as the council representative.
The City of Whitefish announced a Federal Railroad Administration planning grant to examine railroad crossings and propose safety improvements, and the council approved a task force to guide the work.
Public Works Director Craig told the council the planning grant will support a $500,000 study funded by a $400,000 FRA grant, $75,000 in contributions from BNSF and $25,000 in city cash. The planning effort will examine crossings across town and consider options such as a grade‑separated crossing east of the existing viaduct and improvements at State Park Road and Birch Point Drive.
One condition of the FRA funding is a task force to include city staff, committee members, BNSF, the FRA, Rocky Mountain Transit, business and citizen representatives and a council member or the mayor. Council accepted the proposed task‑force composition and appointed Councilor Steve as the city’s representative, subject to the mayor’s final request. Funding for the plan includes the $25,000 city match.
Craig said the task force will help prioritize crossing improvements, develop projects and coordinate with state and federal partners. Councilors volunteered to serve and discussed scheduling the task force outside of school‑day hours to accommodate members.
The study is a planning step and does not commit the city to construction; any later capital work would require additional funding and separate council approvals.
