The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) says nearly $300 million is available in grant funding to repair and rehabilitate intercity passenger railroad assets.
Although the freight railroads, including short line railroads, aren’t eligible for funding, they could experience secondary or ancillary benefits because improvements in the passenger rail network could help make the freight rail network more fluid. A freight railroad could also partner with an eligible applicant, such as a state or group of states, a public agency, a county or locality, an interstate compact, or Amtrak, on a capital project.
The $291.4 million in funding is part of the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grant program, which aims to support the projects of publicly or Amtrak-owned or -controlled passenger rail infrastructure, equipment and facilities.
Eligible projects could involve those addressing railroad infrastructure, equipment or facility assets, such as track, ballast, switches and interlockings, bridges, communication and signal systems, power systems, highway-rail grade crossings, stations, passenger cars, locomotives, maintenance-of-way equipment, and yards, terminal areas and maintenance shops, said FRA.
In reviewing applications, FRA will look at how projects enhance economic vitality, leverage federal funding and use innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite project delivery, FRA said.
More information on the grant application process is available here. Applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on July 27.
“All eligible parties should take full advantage of this opportunity to leverage private, state and local investments that boost capital projects, including those that enhance safety in track and equipment and improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings or otherwise grade-separate rail intersections,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory.
