The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (commission) is seeking applications to fund projects that will eliminate or mitigate public safety hazards at railroad crossings and along railroad rights-of-way in Washington State. The commission administers the Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF) to provide grants to railroad companies, local governments and other agencies that propose to make safety improvements at a railroad crossing or along a railroad right-of-way. Designated funding is available for safety improvements at passive public railroad crossings and for eliminating or consolidated railroad crossings. In addition, funding is available for implementing other safety projects.

Limited GCPF funding is available at this time. Applicants may submit applications, however they may not be considered until the 2011-2013 biennium. Consideration of these applications is contingent upon the commission receiving funding for the GCPF program in the 2011-2013 biennium. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

a. Trespass prevention projects. Examples of projects in this category include fencing or other physical barriers that prevent trespassing on railroad rights-of-way, pedestrian warning devices, channeling devices, media or public relations campaigns and enforcement-related activities. Note that fencing projects must meet Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) fencing standards (see below). Fences may not include decorative features such as vinyl-coated or slatted chain link or wood fences unless the applicant directly pays for the decorative features.

b. Private grade crossing safety improvements. Examples of projects in this category include installation of crossing-specific warning devices, installation of nighttime or off-hours locked gates and improvements to existing warning devices.

c. Miscellaneous safety projects. Examples of projects in this category include improvements to motorists’ ability to see approaching trains, including the removal of physical obstructions, participation in roadway improvements at or approaching grade crossings and mitigation of crossing closures.

The commission will normally approve proposals for no more than $20,000 for projects that do not have a cost-share or matching requirement. In exceptional circumstances, the commission may approve an amount in excess of $20,000 to address an immediate or significant safety problem. If an applicant requests more than $20,000, he or she must provide sufficient justification, including but not limited to:

• The application requests more than $20,000 as partial payment for a much larger project. The applicant must describe the larger project, including cost projections that describe which parties are expected to pay which portion of projected costs.


• The application requests more than $20,000 and the applicant is providing matching or shared costs. The applicant must describe the larger project, including cost projections that describe which parties will provide matching or shared projected costs.

The commission may limit the amount of funding per project so that an optimal number of projects may be funded with regard to relative safety benefits and project costs.

The commission will not pay administrative costs or labor costs if administration and labor is provided by the applicant with current staff (i.e. a company employee installs the fencing), but may pay for contracted administration or labor.

The commission will make payment only on a reimbursement basis. The commission will not approve advance payments for any project costs.