The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) selected this week several experts to assist member railroads in grant application submissions for available programs currently provided through the Department of Transportation.
Many of the grants, such as the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) and the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD), have been funded for fiscal year 2018. However, while the grants have been funded, they have a very short window for application submissions.
“The FY18 transportation appropriations bill provided unprecedented funding levels, with $1.5 billion in BUILD grants vs. $500M in FY17 and $592 million in CRISI grants vs. $300M in FY17,” ASLRRA President Linda Bauer Darr said. “Our new Preferred Provider Grant Writing Center will ensure that our members are well prepared to take advantage of these funding opportunities, which can be used to maintain safe track and grow services or to meet the mandate to comply with PTC.”
ASLRRA chose three companies to serve as their inaugural Preferred Providers. Those companies include Bergmann, an engineering and architectural firm with locations throughout the country; HDR Inc., a firm that has supported more than 50 grant writing and contract award projects; and R.L. Banks and Associates Inc., which has served more than 200 railroads in providing analytical and communication services.