Eastern Arizona Railway Company to receive $21.6 million
Contributed Article
WASHINGTON D.C. – A total of $60,218,712 will be invested in railroad infrastructure and safety improvement projects across Arizona from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.
The Federal Railroad Administration allocated $60,218,712 through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Arizona’s railroads are crucial to creating jobs, moving goods, and connecting our communities,” said Kelly. “This investment will make sure our rail infrastructure is safer, more efficient, and better prepared for the future. By strengthening our railroads, we’re enhancing safety for Arizonans and boosting economic growth.”
“Today’s $60.2 million investment is an important step forward to better connect our communities and expand economic opportunities – and I’m proud to have made it a reality through my bipartisan infrastructure law,” said Sinema.
Arizona Eastern Railway Company will receive $21,614,250 for its Eastern Arizona Rail Safety, Efficiency, and Resiliency Project.
The proposed project was selected for final design and construction and includes the rehabilitation of approximately 34 miles of track, replacing three aging timber bridges, installing two emergency crossings, cutting brush within rights-of-way, and retrofitting two tank cars for firefighting for the Arizona Eastern Railway Company. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and resiliency as the project will address infrastructure vulnerabilities in a location with a history of wildfires. The Arizona Eastern Railway Company will contribute the 30 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in rural areas.
Kelly and Sinema’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the strongest investment ever in American public transit with $39.2 billion to expand transit systems, increase accessibility, and fund the nation’s transit system repair backlog, estimated at more than 24,000 buses; 5,000 rail cars; 200 stations; and thousands of miles of track, signals, and power systems—and the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak.
In the two years since its passage, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has delivered over $349 million to improve public transportation options and access across the state.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.
