U.S. DOT makes $244 million of funding available for Capital Rail Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The NOFO includes more than $244 million in grant funding. 

 U.S. Transportation Secretary, Elaine L. Chao, said: “The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant programme is an important resource for railroads to upgrade infrastructure and for communities to enhance safety on tracks and at railroad crossings.”

The Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) NOFO will fund projects that increase rail transportation safety, efficiency, and reliability. Eligible applications will include projects that address congestion challenges, highway-rail grade crossings, upgrade short-line railroad infrastructure, relocate rail lines, improve intercity passenger rail capital assets, and deploy railroad safety technology. Both freight and passenger rail infrastructure projects are eligible. 

The CRISI grant programme also directs investment to rural America, with at least 25 per cent of available funds reserved for projects in rural communities. This enables FRA to improve rural America’s rail infrastructure. 

The DOT will also consider how projects support key objectives including enhancing economic vitality, leveraging federal funding, adopting life-cycle cost accounting; using innovative approaches to improve safety and expediting project delivery, and holding grant recipients accountable for achieving specific, measurable outcomes. Preference will be given to projects where the proposed federal share of total costs does not exceed 50 per cent. 

FRA Administrator, Ronald L. Batory, commented: “These CRISI grants support safe rail systems around the country, and I encourage eligible parties with creative and innovative projects to apply by the deadline.”