The City of Portsmouth is set to modernize its rail infrastructure, thanks to a significant federal grant. In a call on September 25, 2023, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg personally congratulated Mayor Deaglan McEachern on Portsmouth’s successful application for the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program. The city will receive $460,000 to fund crucial engineering studies focused on the reconfiguration of the Bartlett Street underpass and its aging railroad bridge.
This essential project extends beyond Bartlett Street, encompassing Preliminary Engineering Studies with detailed cost estimates for safety and surface enhancements at three public grade crossings along the CSX Portsmouth Branch: Barberry Lane, Maplewood Avenue, and Green Street. The project also includes the public crossing at Market Street on the CSX Newington Industrial Track. Notably, improvements at Maplewood Avenue and Market Street crossings are already prioritized within the New Hampshire 2023-2032 Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan, highlighting the city’s proactive approach to infrastructure upgrades.
Mayor McEachern emphasized the grant’s importance to Portsmouth’s economic engine. “The Department of Transportation has awarded $1.4 billion for railroad improvements across just 70 projects nationwide – and Portsmouth is among the recipients. This rail initiative directly bolsters the economic vitality of Portsmouth and New Hampshire by ensuring efficient and dependable rail transport for goods moving to and from the Port of Portsmouth, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and numerous other rail-dependent businesses in our city,” he stated. He further noted the historical significance of rail to Portsmouth, symbolized by a train on the city seal. Mayor McEachern credited the Department of Public Works and the Legal Department, along with their grant consultant, for their compelling grant application to the Federal Transportation Department. He added, “Thanks to this grant, Portsmouth will be able to enhance both the rail line and the safety of Bartlett Street for the surrounding neighborhood.”
A key component of the project is the Preliminary Engineering phase, which will develop specifications and cost estimates for replacing the 135-year-old girder bridge situated over Bartlett Street. This bridge, a vital part of the CSX Portsmouth Branch network, has surpassed its intended lifespan and can no longer accommodate modern industry-standard freight cars with a gross weight of 286,000 pounds (286k). Furthermore, the bridge’s location above a sharp curve on Bartlett Street results in inadequate highway vertical and horizontal clearances, posing a significant safety risk. The engineering studies will define the scope of work required to construct a new, 286k-capable undergrade bridge, incorporating a relocated and straightened Bartlett Street beneath it.
The project’s core objective is to significantly improve highway safety by establishing industry-standard vertical and horizontal clearances and ensuring clear sightlines for drivers. The new configuration will also enhance railroad safety by eliminating the risk of bridge strikes from over-height vehicles. The CRISI grant will partially fund the initial stages of four interconnected project elements:
- Replacement of the Bartlett Street bridge and its relocation to meet 286k capacity standards and achieve a minimum 14-foot highway vertical clearance.
- Realignment of Bartlett Street and associated utilities to run under the new Bartlett Street bridge.
- Rehabilitation of four public grade crossings with surface upgrades and the installation of new or improved active warning systems.
- Refurbishment of 1.33 miles of the Portsmouth Branch and Newington Industrial track, stretching from west of the Barberry Road grade crossing to east of the Market Street Grade Crossing.
Moving forward, the City of Portsmouth will collaborate closely with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Railroad Development. As stated in the official notification, this partnership aims “To deliver your project that will help us modernize our nation’s freight and passenger rail infrastructure.”
The CSX Portsmouth Branch rail line is a critical artery serving the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the New Hampshire State Port Authority’s Market Street Marine Terminal, as well as various commercial enterprises. Both the Portsmouth Branch and the Newington Industrial Track hold the designation of “Defense Connector Lines” within the Strategic Rail Corridor Network (STRACNET). This network identifies civil rail lines that are of paramount importance to national defense due to their essential service to military installations.
