The goal of the project is to develop a plan to improve safety and mobility by addressing the adverse effects of the current at-grade crossing at Market Street. By designing the separation of rail traffic from vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the project will outline a strategy to significantly reduce the potential for train, vehicle, and pedestrian conflicts while simultaneously providing unobstructed east-west access, reducing delays in emergency response times.

As the sole grantee of the Crawfordsville Crossing: Railway Crossing Elimination Project, the City of Crawfordsville will lead and oversee project development. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will serve as an oversight partner and will be responsible for reviewing and approving the project design. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is also expected to provide oversight, particularly as it relates to impacts on state highways.

The project is in the environmental study and design phase, where project solutions (called alternatives) will be evaluated. Once a project alternative is selected, the alternative will be designed.

Three “build” alternatives and one “no build” alternative will be analyzed. 

The project is early in the environmental process, and environmental resources—including public spaces and historic properties—are being evaluated.  Impacts and proposed mitigation for those properties will be an important part of the environmental document.

HWC Engineering is the lead engineering firm overseeing the preparation of the environmental document and design.

The environmental study process is ongoing.  The environmental document is expected to be published in October 2026, with a public hearing shortly afterward. The team hopes to finalize the environmental document by November 2026.

Design will not be finalized until the environmental process is complete.  Impacts to specific properties could be identified in Fall of 2026.

Construction—which is expected to last approximately 1.5 to 2 years—could begin as early as 2029.

The total project costs are currently estimated at $44.5 million, which includes planning, design, right-of-way, utility relocation, construction, and construction inspection.

Funding for preliminary design and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document approval is secured.  Funding for final design and construction is not yet secured and is dependent on the project being selected in a future FRA grant opportunity.

The total design funding is $1.6 million. The FRA awarded the City $1.12 million through a 70%/30% matching grant. As a result, the City is responsible for the remaining $480,000 to cover the preliminary design and environmental study efforts. If the project is selected for funding in a future grant application submittal, final design and construction would be funded in a similar fashion, with FRA funding an anticipated 80% and the remaining 20% coming from local funding. The City is currently exploring options for partners to assist in the 20% local match.

If a “build” alternative is selected, this project may affect property owners and land may need to be acquired before construction can begin. Because an alternative has not yet been selected, specific property impacts have not been identified.

If a “build” alternative is selected, yes, it is expected that traffic from the surrounding at-grade railroad crossings will choose the Market Street crossing during train events to avoid delays. 

If a “build” alternative is selected, travel times are expected to decrease due to the elimination of the at-grade railroad crossing.

Yes, emergency responders are a major stakeholder and will be engaged throughout the project.

Removal of the at-grade intersection will provide emergency services with a route that has a “known” travel time that cannot be impacted by stopped trains on the tracks.  As with any roadway, motorists will be expected to pull over/stagger to allow passage for emergency vehicles.

Yes, all project information is available at CrawfordsvilleCrossing.com

Public involvement will occur throughout the environmental process, including public open houses – where the public can comment on the current design status – and a public hearing prior to approval of the environmental document.

Yes, a public hearing is tentatively scheduled for November 2026.

Public involvement is a critical part of the environmental and design process.  The public can submit comments at the various public open houses offered or through the project website.