Schererville receives $8.4 million grant to build railroad overpass on Kennedy Avenue
Much of the Schererville Town Council meeting on Wednesday consisted of accepting grants targeted for a variety of projects, foremost among them an award from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
The Town Council formally accepted $8.4 million to eliminate the at-grade crossing and build a bridge over the railroad across on Kennedy Avenue, which is part of phase one of the project to extend the road south to U.S. 30.
Town Council President Tom Schmitt, D-4th, said the town worked with Congressman Frank Mrvan, D-1st, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to secure the funding. Created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program is intended to help communities eliminate at-grade rail crossings, avoiding blockages and collisions.
Schmitt thanked the town’s administrative staff for their work on securing the grant, saying, “This really helps us out a lot and helps us save money.”
The town also received $1,447,278 as part of a 50/50 matching grant from the state’s Community Crossing program, which will be used for paving and sidewalks across town. Lake County has allocated a portion of its unused American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help finance a $745,328 water main project at Oakdale Drive and Hickory Place, a project the Town Council awarded to Grimmer Construction Co. Schmitt said the water line has been in poor condition for a long time and is badly in need of repair.
Schmitt announced that the Celebrate Schererville last weekend was a success despite the cancellation of Sunday’s event due to the weather. He said the Town Council has since formed a subcommittee to review the event and address any improvements that can be made.
One resident who addressed the council suggested that Celebrate Schererville be moved from Redar Park to Rohrman Park to accommodate the larger crowds.