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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) was today joined by the Michigan Department of Transportation and state and local legislators to announce the next steps for the road grade separation project on M-85 in Trenton. Earlier this month, Dingell announced the Federal Railroad Administration awarded $73,446,704 to MDOT to complete the project, which will improve safety in one of the Downriver region’s busiest traffic corridors.

Next steps include a preliminary engineering and environmental clearance process with input from the community to develop and consider all available options, and determine the best solution for the location, which is expected to take approximately 24 months. Once the best option is determined, the final design process is estimated to take another 24 months. The evaluation and design processes will take place in close consultation with the public.

“For too long, Downriver communities have been dealing with the inconveniences and safety concerns of at-grade railroad intersections, including impeded emergency vehicles and school buses that travel over this rail crossing each day. Currently, police, ambulances, emergency services, and residents deal with significant wait times when trains are passing,” Dingell said. “Building an overpass will improve mobility, reduce emissions, and make this intersection safer. I will work with our state and local leaders as this overpass is constructed, and I remain committed to delivering federal funding to our district to upgrade our infrastructure and improve our communities.”

“In just a few years, thanks to the herculean efforts of Congresswoman Dingell and the federal government, and Senator Camilleri and MDOT, hours long train delays at Fort and Van Horn will be no more,” Mayor Rzeppa said. “The gut feeling of seeing an ambulance or other first responders on the way to Corewell Hospital sitting at a blocked crossing will be a thing of the past. The worry in the hearts and minds of parents who have no idea why their child’s bus hasn’t arrived home yet only to know they have been stopped by a parked train will be a foreign concept.”

"This crossing, like many across Downriver, has caused headaches for residents, first responders, and local businesses for decades. With this federal funding, we are continuing to put our communities first by investing in our infrastructure and delivering real change to our region." said Senator Camilleri (SD-4). "This project, in addition to the Allen Road Grade Separation, will not only remedy frustrating delays for our neighbors but also save lives by ensuring that our police, fire and EMS are not blocked from responding to emergencies. I'm grateful for the advocacy and determination of Congresswoman Dingell, Mayor Rzeppa, and our partners at MDOT who are helping to solve one of the foremost challenges here in Downriver."

"Eliminating this at-grade railroad crossing will reduce traffic delays, cut carbon emissions, and save lives by making it easier for emergency vehicles to get to communities in need," said Zachary Kolodin, chief infrastructure officer and director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. "Thanks to the leadership of Governor Whitmer and our federal partners, along with $16.5 million in match grants from our Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund, we're seeing another infrastructure project come to life that will have a real impact on Michiganders in the Downriver area."

View a video of the press conference here.