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.
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