{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/nm-delegation-welcomes-over-4-million-from-the-infrastructure-law-to-enhance-safety-reduce-delays-at-railway-crossings-and-grow-local-economies-in-clovis-and-san-juan-county", "N.M. Delegation Welcomes Over $4 Million From the Infrastructure Law to Enhance Safety, Reduce Delays at Railway Crossings, and Grow Local Economies in Clovis and San Juan County", "2024-10-29", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. \u2013 U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed a combined $4,570,920 for two projects in New Mexico from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen the nation\u2019s supply chain, reduce costs, and grow New Mexico\u2019s economy.\n\n$4,000,000 will help San Juan County and the Navajo Nation complete the planning for a proposed freight rail line connecting Farmington and Gallup.\n\n$570,920 will help the City of Clovis enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings.\n\n\u201cThanks to our Infrastructure Law, we\u2019re delivering the funds needed to kick-start planning for a freight rail line from Farmington to Gallup and improve railway crossings in Clovis. Combined, these investments will strengthen our nation\u2019s supply chain, grow local economies, lower transportation costs, create high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, and improve safety for our communities,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to welcome these federal investments, and I remain committed to securing more investments to connect rural communities to the abundant opportunities ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cAcross our state, New Mexicans rely daily on our railways for travel and to keep our economy running,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $4.5+ million in federal funding will deliver much-needed railway safety enhancements in Clovis and help construct a new rail line within the Navajo Nation to expand regional rail service in Northwestern New Mexico. I\u2019m proud to welcome these two grants that will both boost railway service and drive economic development for Clovis, the Navajo Nation, and their surrounding communities. I will continue to fight to bring federal dollars home to New Mexico to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery time I go to the Four Corners, local leaders emphasize the importance of connecting the region with rail. The Four Corners area is a major economic center of our state, and the funding we\u2019re announcing today is the beginning of our work to make sure our rail infrastructure is ready to meet that potential across San Juan and McKinley Counties,\u201d said Leger Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cI am happy that this funding also includes improvements to safety and efficiency of freight in Clovis. With the support of the CRISI program, we can begin the critical work needed to build stronger connections and drive growth in rural New Mexico.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am thrilled about the recent allocation of two significant federal grants from the Federal Railroad Administration\u2019s CRISI program, which will greatly enhance rail safety and connectivity in New Mexico,\u201d said Stansbury. \u201cThese two grants reflect our commitment to investing in infrastructure prioritizing safety and economic growth. I am grateful for the support from the Federal Railroad Administration and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition as we work together to build a safer New Mexico!\u201d\n\n\"Federal investments like this bring vital safety and economic benefits to communities across New Mexico. With this funding, we\u2019re improving railway safety, cutting down delays, and connecting New Mexicans to opportunities that drive economic growth and quality jobs,\" said Vasquez. \"Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are building a stronger, safer transportation network. I\u2019m proud to welcome this funding to bring more jobs and opportunities to our rural communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe award of grant funding takes a prospective freight rail line study further than any study in the past and is further proof of the importance of collaboration between tribal, local, state, and federal partners to open doors to economic opportunities. We are appreciative of assistance from New Mexico\u2019s federal delegation and excited for future economic growth opportunities in San Juan County and the Four Corners region,\u201d said John T. Beckstead, San Juan County Commission Chairman.\n\n\"The Federal CRISI Grant brings San Juan County and the City of Farmington one step closer to having competitive transportation and economic development. This is an important step in growing our regional economy,\u201d said Tim Gibbs, Four Corner Economic Development CEO.\n\nThe grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration\u2019s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The CRISI Program received significant, additional investments from the Infrastructure Law \u2013 legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation.\n\nThe N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting the grant for San Juan County that is being announced today. This grant will prepare the Four Corners Rail Project for final design proposals and planning.\n\nIn May 2020, Heinrich and Luj\u00e1n wrote a letter of support for San Juan County\u2019s application for a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant, which applicants of the CRISI Program are required to be approved for.\n\nMembers of the N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the support of the grant for the City of Clovis that is being announced today. This grant will enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings including modifications to the Norris Street railroad crossing and construction of a new grade-separated crossing at MLK Jr. Boulevard.\n\nBelow is a breakdown of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration funding:\n\nFor more information from San Juan County on the proposed Four Corners Rail Project, please click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/nm-delegation-welcomes-over-4-million-from-the-infrastructure-law-to-enhance-safety-reduce-delays-at-railway-crossings-and-grow-local-economies-in-clovis-and-san-juan-county"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5728648286312819, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}