Public Belt Railroad Moves Back on Track with FEMA Assistance 

Release Date: October 25, 2007
Release Number: 1603-737

» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- An integral component of New Orleans' transportation infrastructure is heading toward recovery with financial help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The railroad sustained damages to the tracks, signal cases, signal houses, crossing gates, box cars, vehicles and office trailers. The repainting of the Huey P. Long Bridge due to wind damage was also part of the request submitted by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. FEMA has worked closely with the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad to fund the repairs. Construction is approximately 70 percent complete.

"It's going well," Public Belt Railroad Chief Engineer Anthony Marinello said. "We work well with the FEMA people."

The publicly-owned Public Belt Railroad Commission operates the local railroad. The railroad comprises approximately 25 miles of main track, 97 miles of yard track and employs 163 people. Private railroad lines—such as CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific—must connect to the Public Belt Railroad when delivering freight in the city.

FEMA has obligated $3.3 million toward recovering the Public Belt Railroad system.

When projects are obligated by FEMA through its supplemental Public Assistance grant, the funds are transferred to a Smartlink account. This allows the applicant, in this case the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, to work with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness as quickly as possible to access the reimbursement monies. The state may require additional documentation from the applicant before disbursing the funds. Obligated funds may change over time as the project worksheet is a living grant that is often adjusted as bids come in and scope of work is aligned.

The Public Assistance program works with state and local officials to fund recovery measures and the rebuilding of government and certain private nonprofit organizations' buildings, as well as roads, bridges and water and sewer plants. In order for the process to be successful, federal, state and local partners coordinate to draw up project plans, fund these projects and oversee their completion.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. 

Last Modified: Thursday, 25-Oct-2007 11:12:05