Four major federal grant programs in the last several months announced billions in funding for U.S. rail infrastructure. The grants address diverse needs, from high-speed passenger service to essential freight movements, reinforcing rail as a key pillar in America’s transportation and economic infrastructure.
Here’s a closer look at recent rail grant news:
— CRISI Program Delivers Largest-Ever Funding Round.
The CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) program on October 29 announced the allocation of $2.4 billion to 122 rail improvement projects across 41 states, with a special focus on safety, supply chain resilience, and environmental impact reduction. CRISI emphasizes investments in smaller, regional railroads that play a crucial role in local economies and serve rural areas often overlooked in national rail funding.
Noteworthy projects in this FY23-24 funding round include a $157 million grant in Illinois for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, aimed at enhancing track infrastructure, eliminating grade crossings, and creating a multimodal transportation center to integrate passenger and freight rail with local and intercity bus services. In North Carolina, a $105.5 million investment will help the North Carolina Railroad Company improve passenger and freight service by upgrading tracks and expanding rail capacity to meet growing demand. The Eastern Arizona Rail Safety, Efficiency, and Resiliency Project will receive $21.6 million for track rehabilitation and to address vulnerabilities in any area with a history of wildfires.
— MEGA and INFRA Make Key Investments into CREATE.
The Mega Grant Program announced in September an award of $209 million to the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program. Mega prioritizes transformative projects that are complex, costly, and expected to deliver far-reaching benefits. With this new funding, CREATE’s work on the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP) will progress, reducing delays and improving safety for both passenger and freight rail by addressing critical infrastructure needs in a densely populated area.
On October 18, CREATE received another $81 million for its 75th Street CIP from the INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) program. INFRA supports large-scale projects with regional significance, addressing transportation bottlenecks that impede economic growth and freight movement. The additional CREATE funding will reconfigure track segments, enhance signals, and update bridge infrastructure.
— NOFO Announced for Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (National).
The Fed-State National program announced its open application period on October 1, allocating more than $1 billion to expand and modernize intercity passenger rail outside of the Northeast Corridor. This funding is particularly significant for its focus on areas underserved by rail. Eligible projects establish new service, improve the performance of existing service, and/or replace or rehabilitate rail infrastructure. The NOFO is available here. Applications are due December 16, 2024.
These investments not only address today’s infrastructure challenges but also pave the way for a future in which rail powers America’s transportation ecosystem. For more resources on rail grants, please visit GoRail’s Rail Grant Hub: https://gorail.org/rail-grant-news.
