US: FRA Announces $1.1 Billion in Grants for 123 Rail Projects
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced over 1.1 billion USD in funding as part of its Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced over 1.1 billion USD in funding as part of its Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.
The grants have been awarded to 123 rail projects that aim to improve or study more than 1,000 highway-rail crossing across the country.
The announcement, which is the largest single investment into grade crossing safety in FRA’s history, brings funding provided by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 48.5 billion USD in over 445 rail projects across the country, as well as Amtrak.
Grants announced span 41 states, and will provide funding for projects to build railroad overpasses and underpasses and fund safety upgrades, as well as implement overall improvements for pedestrians, motorists, rail workers and riders.
All projects aim to reduce and, in many cases, eliminate, the risk of collisions between trains and roadway users, prevent blocked crossings and enhance safety for communities across the United States.
“This Administration is tackling the issues that Americans face every day, and over the years, we have engaged with residents, community leaders, and stakeholders across the country on the issue of grade crossing safety and blocked crossings.
“The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding we’re announcing today is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens.”
The announcement of funding comes following more than 26,000 complaints of blocked crossings through its Public Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter in 2024.
Projects funded by the 2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program include Arizona’s Hualapai Tribal Diamond Creek Road Grade Separation Project, South Carolina’s Assembly Street Railroad Separation Project, Illinois’ CREATE Project GS1 and North Carolina’s NC State University/North Carolina Railroad Crossing Safety Training Program.
“From day one of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have committed ourselves to making rail safer for all Americas, and since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have made unprecedented investments to modernize and improve America’s rail networks.
“Today’s grants are another example of the Biden-Harris Administration reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America's rail network and delivering for the American people, helping people in communities big and small get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, and workplaces safely and without delays.”
FRA has also announced a further 146 million USD in funding bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for intercity passenger rail services on six routes across the country, with services including California’s Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service on the LOSSAN Corridor from Los Angeles to San Diego, CA, Connecticut’s CTrail Hartford Line service from New Haven, CT, to Springfield, MA, Brightline’s Florida service from Miami to Orlando, Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service from New Orleans, LA, to Mobile, AL, North Carolina’s Amtrak Piedmont service from Charlotte to Raleigh, NC and Amtrak’s Borealis service from Chicago, IL, to Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.
