Grant project will improve safety, capacity and reliability in the transportation system in the mohawk valley and adirondack regions by making needed improvements to three critical bridges on the rome…

This federal Project Grant award from the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program (CFDA 20.325) will provide $4,480,000 to improve safety, capacity, and reliability in the transportation system in the Mohawk Valley and Adirondack regions of New York. The grant will fund critical improvements to three bridges on the Rome Industrial Track and Lyons Falls Branch, including rehabilitation of one bridge span, replacement of two bridge spans, and tie replacement and abutment rehabilitation on two other bridges. These infrastructure upgrades will allow the rail line to accommodate heavier 286,000-pound freight cars at full track speed, benefiting the main freight rail operator, Mohawk Adirondack & Northern Railroad Corporation, as well as current and potential customers. The project aims to restore the bridges to a state of good repair and improve safety for highway users, freight, and passenger excursion traffic. The award period is from April 1, 2024 to February 28, 2027.

Grant project will improve safety, capacity and reliability in the transportation system in the mohawk valley and adirondack regions by making needed improvements to three critical bridges on the rome industrial track and lyons falls branch. At bridge 0.83, span 1 will be rehabilitated and spans 2 and 3 will be replaced to increase the permissible weight of rail cars over the line to accommodate modern 286,000-pound freight cars (286K) at track speed, rather than the current maximum 263,000-pounds freight car weight. Bridge ties will be replaced at bridge 37.86 to restore the capacity to 286K at track speed. Bridge ties will be replaced, abutments rehabilitated, and approach pavement reconstructed at the railroad street bridge. Investment in the bridges will restore them to a state of good repair and improve safety for highway users, freight and passenger excursion traffic. Mhwa is the main beneficiary and freight rail operator of the project. Current and potential customers will benefit by maintaining access to the low-cost transportation options provided by rail.