EVERETT, JAN. 15: The City of Everett will receive a $18.9 million grant to eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings near the Smith Island railroad terminal.
The grants come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program, spearheaded by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell in 2021.
RCE Grants “help communities eliminate highway-rail grade crossings to reduce train-vehicle collisions and blocked rail crossings and improve the movement of people and goods,” a press release from Rep. Rick Larson said.
“At-grade rail crossings bisect communities, separate whole neighborhoods from emergency services, and delay people and goods from getting where they need to go. With freight rail traffic expected to grow 44 percent by 2050, these investments will help local governments across the State of Washington unblock these crossings,” Sen. Cantwell said.
The grant will go towards Everett’s Smith Island Safety: Grade Crossings Elimination and Highway Connections Project. The project will create a new overpass over the BNSF mainline, close the existing crossings at 36th Place NE and 32nd Ave NE, and build a new integrated roundabout.

This will eliminate a bottleneck for trucks seeking to get in and out of Smith lsland when the crossings are blocked by freight trains, the release said.
“Over 1,800 freight trucks cross the railroad tracks coming in and out of the Smith Island Terminals every day – and are slowed down by crossings blocked by trains for over two hours each day. By eliminating this congestion, concrete, topsoil, and lumber made here in Washington will be able to get to market without delay, supporting the local economy,” Sen. Cantwell said.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded 123 projects in 41 states, including $22.6 million for five projects in Washington state.
The grant was announced by Sen. Cantwell, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Larsen, and Rep. Suzan DelBene.
About the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant
In April 2021, Sen. Cantwell introduced legislation to establish the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program to help states, cities, and Tribes plan and construct grade crossing separation and improvement projects. In June 2021, Sen. Cantwell led the legislation through the Commerce Committee as part of the Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021. This legislation was included in the November 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $3 billion over 5 years for this program. In 2023, DOT announced $570 million for projects to eliminate highway-railroad crossings in 32 states — including nearly $40.5 million to the City of Washougal, Washington, to eliminate one of the busiest BNSF railroad grade crossings in the state.