The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced plans on Thursday to administer $73 million in grant funding for capital projects that bolster intercity passenger rail and enhance rail safety.
Made available through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the grants are designed to couple federal, state and private investments to advance rail projects. Implementing positive train control (PTC), enhancing highway-rail grade crossings, addressing congestion, and repairing or replacing railroad assets were listed as potential examples.
“These grants are important resources in the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen our Nation’s overall rail systems, deploy positive train control and improve highway-rail grade crossings,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.
Grant funds will be administered through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program and the Restoration and Enhancement Grants program.
Approximately 25 percent of CRISI’s $68 million in funding will be dedicated to rural projects, including highway-rail grade crossing improvements. Another $10 million will be available for rail line relocation, grade separation projects, restoration of intercity rail service, and other capital projects. Finally, approximately $2.2 million will be directed to projects in Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming that are deemed “special transportation circumstances.”
Grants will be awarded to projects based on their ability to support economic vitality, leverage non-federal funding, use of innovative approaches and measurable outcomes.