(Elkhart, IN) Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly announced that the US House of Representatives approved his request for federal funding for a railroad grade separation project in Elkhart.

As part of the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill, the committee appropriated $450,000 for a railroad grade separation on Prairie Street in Elkhart.  The proposed project will alleviate barriers to local traffic, emergency response vehicles, and local commerce.  In addition, the project will reduce a number of economic costs including lost wages, wasted fuel, additional air pollution and crossing safety problems.

“The Elkhart community is heavily impacted by over 100 trains that travel through the city each day,” Donnelly said. “The train noise negatively impacts the quality of life of residents, and parked trains cut off vital transportation routes through the city. This railroad grade separation project would make driving around town easier and Elkhart a better place to live and work.”

The House of Representatives has finished its initial consideration of each of the 12 appropriations bills that would fund the agencies and operations of the federal government for Fiscal Year 2008.  The spending bills are now pending before the Senate.  In order for them to become law, the Senate and House must pass identical bills, and if that does not happen, a compromise negotiated between the House and Senate called a “conference report” must be voted on by both bodies.  Each appropriations bill must then be signed into law by the president.

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