Federal Funds Support Curtis Street Rail Crossing Study

TL;DR: Federal funding supports Chesterfield County's engineering study to evaluate how to eliminate the dangerous at-grade rail crossing at Curtis Street by raising the road or lowering the tracks.

The story

The Federal Railroad Administration is funding a comprehensive engineering study to address one of Virginia's most hazardous rail crossings. Chesterfield County received a $2.3 million Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program grant to examine alternatives for eliminating the at-grade crossing at Curtis Street and West Street, where trains and vehicles currently intersect at the same level. The project will analyze whether to grade-separate the crossing by raising the roadway, lowering the tracks, or both.

The study will evaluate engineering, environmental, traffic, and other planning factors to identify the best approach for safety improvements. The work is expected to take approximately 18 months, with a public meeting scheduled for spring 2028 to present findings and gather community feedback. Final engineering plans are targeted for completion by the end of 2028. According to county staff, the results will position Chesterfield to pursue additional federal funding for land acquisition and construction of the selected alternative.

The Curtis Street crossing ranks second-highest in the state for rail crossing hazard priority, according to VDOT's Virginia Grade Crossing State Action Plan, which evaluates crossings based on expected collision costs and established federal safety criteria. The crossing has been a documented hotspot for vehicle-train crashes. In 2018, a tractor-trailer became trapped on the tracks and was struck by an oncoming train; the vehicle's passengers were able to evacuate before impact. The crossing presents particular dangers to trucks and other low-clearance vehicles that regularly use Curtis Street.

The West Street crossing will be evaluated separately, with the study examining conversion of that crossing to a pedestrian and bicycle facility while closing it to vehicular traffic.

Key players

• Federal Railroad Administration: Federal funder of the study
• Chesterfield County: Project sponsor and local government
• Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT): State transportation agency; ranked crossing as second-highest priority statewide

Key dates

• Spring 2028: Public meeting to present study findings and gather community feedback
• End of 2028: Final engineering study and detailed construction plans due

Why it matters: The Curtis Street rail crossing has been responsible for multiple vehicle-train collisions and remains one of the state's most dangerous crossings. This study is the first step toward a permanent safety solution that could eliminate crashes at the site and improve traffic flow by removing the need to stop for trains.

Places

• Curtis Street
• West Street

Related links

• Chesterfield County Civic Alert - Curtis Street Rail Crossing Study
• Project Contact: Barb Smith

Read the original at Transportation Projects →

Sources

• Chesterfield County Civic Alert - Curtis Street Rail Crossing Study
• Chesterfield receives federal funding for railroad crossing improvements - 12 on Your Side
• Study underway to make safety improvements at Chester railroad crossing - 12 on Your Side
• Warner, Kaine Announce Robust Federal Funding for Virginia's Passenger Rail