$2 Billion Available for Rail Infrastructure and Safety

KEY INFORMATION

Opportunity Number: FR-CRS-26-001

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration

Total Program Funding: $2,039,246,480

Cost Share: 20% minimum

Est. Number of Awards: 120

Previous Years Award Average: $18,700,000

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program assists in funding eligible projects to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; and enhance multi-modal connections. The FRA expects outcomes of selected projects to reduce train accidents, highway-rail grade crossing incidents, and trespass incidents; as well as restore and modernize core assets to improve the state of good repair, enhance system resiliency, and increase safety.

 

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS 

• Deployment of railroad safety technology, including PTC and rail integrity inspection systems.

• A capital project.

• A capital project identified by the Secretary as being necessary to address congestion or safety challenges.

• A capital project identified by the Secretary as being necessary to reduce congestion and facilitate ridership growth in intercity passenger rail transportation along heavily traveled rail corridors.

• A highway-rail grade crossing improvement project.

• A rail line relocation or improvement project.

• A capital project to improve short-line or regional railroad infrastructure.

• Regional rail and corridor service development plans and corresponding environmental analyses.

• Any project that the Secretary considers necessary to enhance multimodal connections or facilitate service integration between rail service and other modes.

• The development and implementation of a safety program or institute to improve rail safety.

• The development and implementation of measures to prevent trespassing and reduce associated injuries.

• Any research that the Secretary considers necessary to advance any particular aspect of rail-related capital, operations, or safety improvements.

• Workforce development and training activities, coordinated with existing DoL and DoT local training programs.

• R&D to advance innovative rail projects, including projects using electromagnetic guideways in an enclosure in a very low-pressure environment.

• The preparation of emergency plans for communities through which hazardous materials are transported by rail.

• Rehabilitating, remanufacturing, procuring, or overhauling locomotives, resulting in an emissions reduction.

 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible entities include:

• States;

• An Interstate Compact;

• A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States;

• A political subdivision of a State;

• Any rail carrier or rail equipment manufacturer in partnership with one of the above;

• Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides intercity rail passenger transportation;

• A Class II railroad or Class III railroad, or an association representing them;

• A Federally recognized Indian Tribe;

• The Transportation Research Board and any entity with which it contracts in the development of rail-related research,
  including cooperative research programs;

• A University transportation center engaged in rail-related research; and

• A non-profit labor organization representing a class or craft of employees of rail carriers or rail carrier contractors.Metropolitan planning organizations

 

KEY DATES 

Full Application Due Date: June 22, 2026

 

RESOURCES 

See the full NOFO here. 

Read the press release here.