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Sandpoint council approves applying for $24.9M FRA crossing elimination grant for Great Northern Road
Summary
The council authorized submitting a Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant application requesting about $24.88 million of a roughly $31 million Great Northern Road corridor project; the application would pair a 20% local/SURA match (~$6.2M) and, if awarded, fund crossing upgrades, drainage, utility work and a multimodal trail.
The Sandpoint City Council voted to approve submission of an application to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program for the Great Northern Road corridor project.
Eric Bush, the city’s project manager, and Carrie with consultant JUB described a roughly $31 million package of improvements along the 1.2‑mile corridor that would upgrade or eliminate several at‑grade rail crossings, install active warning gates and new crossing panels, realign problematic intersections, address drainage and utility failures, and add a multimodal trail. Bush said the city has a proposed 20% local match (SURA) of about $6.2 million and would request approximately $24.88 million from the grant program.
The project application would target safety improvements at Mountain View and Woodland Drive crossings (including potential crossing elimination at Mountain View), realignment at Gooby and Baldi roads to improve sightlines and prevent queuing on tracks, and concrete crossing panels to reduce vehicle hazards. Consultants noted FRA grant processes require environmental review and have a 36‑month program timeline if awarded.
Councilors discussed potential benefits such as a future quiet zone that could reduce horn noise for nearby residents and raised questions about right‑of‑way (much of Great Northern sits in BNSF property) and downstream traffic impacts if a crossing is closed. After discussion, the council voted to authorize staff to submit the RCE application and continue coordination with BNSF and state partners.
The decision does not guarantee funding; if awarded, the council and staff would still need to finalize design details, right‑of‑way acquisitions and NEPA clearances.
