SURA board backs up to $6.2 million match for Great Northern railroad crossing-elimination grant

The Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency board on June 2 voted to submit a letter of support committing up to $6.2 million — the 20% local match — for a Federal Railroad Administration grade-crossing elimination grant to fund the Great Northern Road project.

Public Works Director Holly Ellis told the board the full project is “estimated at $31 million,” a scope that would include complete road reconstruction, stormwater improvements, a sewer main extension, water utility realignment and a separated pathway. Staff said the grant seeks crossing eliminations and realignment near the Amazon facility to reduce the number of closely spaced rail crossings and improve safety.

Staff and consultants told commissioners the grant requires a 20% local match (about $6.2 million) and that some $4 million of the city’s estimate is for property acquisition to consolidate parcels and provide right‑of‑way. Project staff said acquisition could take roughly six months to a year depending on owners; they also said that crossing-arms alone are not necessarily a low-cost alternative and that the FRA scores applications that demonstrably reduce redundant crossings.

Erin, a project team member, said the application has been revised from prior rounds and that the current federal review panels and administration priorities make the project better positioned this cycle. Staff also noted major stakeholders — including BNSF, which owns the tracks — would need to sign off on any realignment; staff characterized the planned realignment as an attempt to work with BNSF on safety improvements.

Mayor Grim, speaking from the audience, said the city has already invested about $1 million in design and described a dual-track approach in which an initial stormwater-only fallback would proceed if the full grant is not awarded. Staff said the grant decision process should be resolved in mid‑June/November (staff gave a rough external timeline) and that awarded funds must be expended by Sept. 30, 2029. If awarded and federal environmental and historic reviews proceed without delay, staff estimated some construction work could begin in fall 2027.

On a motion to send a letter of support and commit up to $6.2 million toward the match, the board voted in favor; commissioners instructed staff to finalize edits to the letter before submission. The grant application deadline staff cited was June 8.

Next steps: staff will edit and submit the letter of support and continue coordination with the city’s finance team, the FRA and BNSF while the board considers budget phasing if the full federal award is not received.