WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly (D) and Kyrsten Sinema (I) announced $60.2 million is being allocated to improve railroad infrastructure in Arizona, including tracks that run through Graham, Greenlee and Gila counties.
$21.6 million is being allocated to Eastern Arizona Railway Company for rehabilitation of about 34 miles of track, to replace three aging timber bridges, install two emergency crossings, cut brush within rights-of-way, and retrofit two tank cars for firefighting.
Eastern Arizona Railway will provide a 30-percent match to the federal funds.
“Arizona’s railroads are crucial to creating jobs, moving goods and connecting our communities,” Kelly said in a prepared statement. “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.”
The other projects funded include:
- $3.4 million to convert diesel locomotives to battery regenerative electric
- $5 million for a second ADA-compliant boarding platform for the Amtrak station in Flagstaff
- $30.2 million for right-of-way acquisition, siding and crossover for the Amtrak line in the Kingman and Seligman areas
“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,” Sinema said.
