Husted secures $40 million for City of Fairfield infrastructure project

“I’m proud to have advocated for this investment and to help deliver Fairfield a project that will bring economic growth to the region and strengthen Ohio’s transportation infrastructure.” WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today announced that he secured $40 million in federal funding for the City of Fairfield’s Symmes Road Grade Separation project, which will improve safety, grow the economy, reduce traffic congestion and strengthen the flow of freight and passenger rail through Butler County. This comes after Husted wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy urging the Department’s support for the project. The project will eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings on Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road in Fairfield, a growing community in Butler County. The project will construct an overpass to separate vehicular traffic from a major rail corridor used by CSX, Norfolk Southern and Amtrak, which sees nearly 50 trains per day. “This project is about making Fairfield safer and keeping people, products and the economy moving forward. Separating road and rail traffic will reduce congestion and the risk of collisions, improve emergency response times and make it more efficient for students, families and workers to get where they need to go. I’m proud to have advocated for this investment and to help deliver Fairfield a project that will bring economic growth to the region and strengthen Ohio’s transportation infrastructure,” said Husted. “This project has been a priority for Fairfield because these crossings affect daily traffic, emergency response, and the businesses that depend on this corridor. The funding will help relieve a persistent bottleneck and improve both road and rail access across Butler County. I’m glad to see this long-awaited project moving forward,” said Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). “This $40 million federal investment is a transformational moment for Fairfield and the entire region. For decades, these railroad crossings have stood as a barrier to safety, mobility, economic development and reliable emergency response, and today we finally have the resources to change that. I want to thank Senator Husted for being an advocate for this project. This award is a powerful example of what is possible when local, county, state and federal partners come together around a shared vision. We are incredibly grateful for the confidence the Federal Railroad Administration has placed in this project, and we are ready to turn that investment into a safer, more connected and more prosperous future for our community,” said Fairfield Mayor Steve Miller. “The Butler County Transportation Improvement District (BCTID) is thrilled to join our project partners in delivering this critically important project that will enhance safety, improve connectivity, and benefit our community for generations to come. For more than three decades, the elimination of these rail crossings has been a longstanding vision for our community. We are both humbled and overjoyed that our federal partners have recognized the importance of this project, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to our region and their investment in our community’s future,” said Dan Corey, Executive Director of the Butler County Transportation Improvement District. Key benefits for Ohio include: Enhanced Public Safety: Eliminates the risk of collisions at two busy crossings. Reduced Traffic Congestion: Frees up Symmes Road, a critical east-west artery carrying over 12,000 vehicles daily, improving emergency response times and school transportation. Economic Growth: Supports the development of millions of square feet of new logistics and distribution centers currently under construction in the area. Improved Rail Fluidity: Creates over four miles of uninterrupted track north of Cincinnati’s congested rail terminals, improving efficiency for both freight and passenger rail service throughout the region. Husted advocated for the funding through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, which provides federal support for capital projects that address rail infrastructure needs, improve performance and expand or establish intercity passenger rail service. The Fairfield project builds on Husted’s continued efforts to secure federal investments in Ohio’s infrastructure. In July, Husted announced that he secured $50 million for Ohio infrastructure projects through the DOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program.