The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced more than $272 million in grant funding is available through the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (Partnership Program).
Funding is used to repair, replace, or rehabilitate publicly owned railroad assets, or to improve intercity passenger rail performance.
Examples of eligible projects are those that keep existing rail lines in service while being brought into a state of good repair, those that replace railway assets to increase capacity or provide a higher level of service, and those that replace existing railway assets.
Preference will be given to projects that do not have Amtrak as the sole applicant.
“It is important for rail infrastructure owners and operators to plan for the maintenance and replacement of their assets,” FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said. “The Department particularly recognizes the opportunity to reduce risk and enhance safety through this grant program.”
Under the Partnership Program, funding cannot exceed 80 percent a project’s total cost. The remaining 20 percent of the cost must come from private- or public- sector funding, or a combination.
Applicants should submit applications to www.Grants.gov by 5 p.m. EST on March 18. Multiple applicants are required to apply jointly.