The City of Spokane Valley learned in early March that it will receive more than $9 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant funding to support the city’s Barker Street/Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway grade separation project.

The award completes the amount needed for the estimated $19 million project.

This is great news,” said Spokane Valley Mayor Rod Higgins.  “Our thanks to Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers for their support of this project.  It will have a significant, positive impact on safety, traffic flow, our city’s quality of life, and our economy.”

The Barker/BNSF project is a critical element of the city’s future economic success.  Barker Road is a key transportation corridor that serves nearly 600 acres of develop-able industrial property that the City has identified for business and industrial development.

Removal of the crossing enhances freight mobility between the Centennial Business Park in the northeast industrial area and I-90 by eliminating vehicle delays at the railway crossing by up to 2.5 hours each day. In addition, the project will improve safety, emergency access and traffic flow by replacing the at-grade railway crossing with an overpass.  As part of the project, the existing intersection at Barker Road and Trent Avenue will be replaced to improve the movement of traffic and reduce overall traffic congestion. Completion of the project will also eliminate the need for trains to sound horns at the crossing, making the adjacent neighborhoods quieter.

More information on the Barker/BNSF grade separation project is available at www.spokanevalley.org/BarkerBNSF or by calling (509) 720-5000.