JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons will sign legislation this week including $50 million in funding for grade-crossing improvements, and will announce a crossing safety plan with the Missouri Department of Transportation, WDAF-TV reports.
Parsons will sign House Bill 4, an appropriations bill governing the Department of Revenue and Department of Transportation passed in May. It specifies one-time funding of $50 million “for protection of the public against hazards existing at railroad crossings,” as had been requested by the state DOT [see “Missouri DOT seeks $50 million …,” Trains News Wire, Oct, 19, 2022].
The funding comes a little more than a year after the Southwest Chief derailed near Mendon, Mo., on June 27, 2022, killing four people and injuring more than 150, after the train hit a dump truck at an unprotected crossing [see “Southwest Chief was traveling 87 mph …,” News Wire, June 29, 2022].
Reflecting that accident, WDAF reports the governor’s office has said the funding will be focused on 47 grade crossings along three passenger-train routes. Details on the specific crossings to be involved have not yet been released.
Among other provisions, the appropriations bill also includes $14.5 million in funding to maintain state-supported Missouri River Runner operations.
Well this is good news from the state that often balks at funding the two cross state Amtrak trains (which incidentally are well patronized and are now running with new Charger locos and Venture coaches, plus several tag-alongs to trip crossing circuits per UP request).