BNSF News

BNSF Voices Support for State Funding Requests

2009-09-24

BNSF has voiced support for four Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants for entities in Texas, Kansas, California and Iowa.

In Texas, the North Texas Council of Governments has requested $61 million for the Tower 55 At-Grade Improvement Project. Tower 55, located near downtown Fort Worth, is one of the busiest at-grade railroad intersections in the United States with more than 100 freight and passenger trains passing through each day.

If granted, this project would bring public benefits in excess of $695 million, create several hundred construction jobs and put more than $130 million into the local economy. Construction could begin in 2010 and be completed by 2012.

This project would allow Tower 55 to accommodate at least 40 percent more rail volume than is currently moving today with less delay and congestion than the region has experienced in recent years.

The state of Kansas' application for a $50 million TIGER grant would help launch the construction of a new BNSF intermodal facility near Kansas City, which will have a significant impact on improving freight mobility and the economy in Kansas.

BNSF's proposed Kansas City Intermodal Facility (KCIMF), located southwest of Kansas City near Edgerton, would help to cumulatively generate thousands of jobs, enhance the region's economic development, and reduce Kansas' congestion and emissions by shifting more goods movement to rail.

The proposed intermodal facility would feature LEED-certified buildings, innovative green technology such as wide-span electric cranes that produce zero emissions on site, and automated gate systems that improve truck throughput and reduce idling.

If the state's request for TIGER funds for this project is granted, construction of the facility could begin in 2010.

The state of California has applied for a $27 million TIGER grant for truck efficiency improvements at BNSF's Hobart Intermodal Facility. Improvements made as a result of the work will have a significant impact on improving freight mobility and the economy in California.

Located near downtown Los Angeles, the Hobart Intermodal Facility is among the nation's busiest intermodal terminals. This project would yield a 50 percent improvement in the productivity of the cargo pick-up and delivery process at Hobart for more than 1 million trucks per year and would remove an average of 580,000 trucks per year from adjacent city streets.

If granted, this project would bring public benefits in excess of $261 million, create hundreds of new jobs during construction and put more than $52 million into the local economy.

This project would build grade separations over the BNSF transcontinental mainline between the Hobart Intermodal Facility and off-site truck lots. It will also implement an innovative automated gate system to speed the processing of trucks entering and exiting the intermodal facility.

Finally, the state of Iowa has applied for a $25 million TIGER grant to replace the Burlington Bridge, which will have a significant impact on improving freight and passenger mobility as well as the economy in Iowa.

The Burlington Bridge spans the Mississippi River, connecting the cities of Burlington, Iowa, and Gulf Port, Ill. The bridge is among the three busiest mainline railroad bridges spanning the upper Mississippi River and is a vital link in the national transportation network.

If granted, this project could bring public benefits of more than $123 million, create hundreds of jobs during construction and put more than $182 million into the economy. Construction could begin in 2010.

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