Rep. Salazar Announces $4.46 Million For TTCI Grant

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced $4.46 million in grant funding for a train control and wireless research program at the Transportation Tech Center Inc. (TTCI) located east of Pueblo.  The grant has been funded by the Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“I am proud to have the finest rail testing facility in the world located in my district.  TTCI’s work continues to make the United States a safer place for those who travel by train or subways.  This grant is well deserved and will help support more efficient train travel, better travel management, and an improved rail network in the United States,” said Rep. Salazar.

The Railroad Wireless Communications and Train Control grant is a program that TTCI officials have overseen for the past four years. The wireless communications and program supports a new generation of train control, which includes computers on trains with GPS, data radio systems, and hand-held terminals.  TTCI officials will allocate a portion of the money to other partner organizations while performing the remainder of the work at TTCI.

Over the past two years, Salazar has hosted senior Homeland Security Officials, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and a Colorado congressional delegation trip to TTCI.  On July 14th the Chairman of the US House Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson (MS-2), and Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-7) to TTCI.

Salazar has also been key in supporting and assisting TTCI in securing $18 million in funding for construction of a tunnel complex at Pueblo’s railroad testing center.  The authorized funding is included in the 2007 Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act that passed out of the transportation committee and will be heard on the House floor later this year.

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