South Carolina’s Columbia Assembly Street Rail Separation Project
The City of Columbia in South Carolina initiated a $10 million community project request to separate local rail and vehicular traffic. The frequently-trafficked Assembly Street was in dire need of separating rail and vehicular traffic to remove congestion and safety risks. Previously unable to accumulate the funds for such a project, the city benefited from $10 million in federal funding through the federal appropriations process.
Requested in 2023, the community project award worth $10 million was secured following previous unsuccessful federal grant applications. The project proposal called for lowering Assembly Street while elevating rail lines to increase motor and pedestrian safety.
Community project requests are submitted directly to a State Senator or corresponding House member rather than a federal agency. Such a distinction from traditional grant applications helps barriers faced by local communities, like Columbia, in receiving federal funds. Both state and local dollars were used to help the project off the ground and earn much-needed Congressional support.
