MOORHEAD (KFGO-AM) -- For the fourth time, Moorhead's request for federal funding for an underpass at the intersection of Main Avenue and 21st Street South has been denied.
Justin Schoenberg who works near the intersection said, "It's a pain sometimes, sometimes you're leaving work and suddenly you hear the train coming and you know you'll have to sit around for about ten to fifteen minutes because all the traffic gets backed up and you just have to sit around and wait."
The Transportation Department started a competitive grant known as TIGER.
Moorhead applied for the grant and requested $19 million, which was down from last year's rejected proposal of $22 million.
Moorhead City Manager Michael Redlinger said, "We were hoping that getting below a fifty percent total participation by the federal government would help, but it would appear that perhaps the price tag was still a bit too steep so we'll evaluate that and see how we look in the future."
According to city officials this underpass will reduce traffic build up but on the other side of the tracks, this will be detrimental to local businesses.
Owner of Whale of a Wash John Lynn, whose business is next to the intersection said, "I'm hoping it doesn't go through as long as I'm the owner of the car wash. I think it'd probably put us out of business if not during the construction phase then once it's finally completed."
Whether the city applies again for a fifth time will be in the hands of the council.
If the city receives federal funding, the remaining cost would be paid by the city, state and BNSF Railway.