FRA Makes $25 Million Available for Infrastructure Upgrades
The Obama administration has also requested $2.3 billion in the FY2017 budget.
The Federal Railroad Administration is accepting applications from local governments, states, and railroads for $25 million in competitive grants to increase rail safety. Applicants can request funds for safety improvements to railroad infrastructure, including railroad crossings, track, tunnels, bridges, yards and other areas. The funding is made available from the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act that funds DOT.
"As the country's population increases, rail will play a larger role in transporting more people and more freight. To do that safely, we must invest in our rail infrastructure," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. "These funds will help address some of the improvements that are essential for safe, reliable, and efficient railroad operations, and I encourage applications that achieve the maximum benefits possible with this limited funding."
The Railroad Safety Infrastructure Improvements Grant program can fund safety improvements to railroad infrastructure, but the focus of a project must be safety improvements, according to the release.