The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently invested in eight grants exceeding $21.2 million in Positive Train Control (PTC) passenger rail and highway-rail grade crossing safety.
The Notice of Funding Availability issued in July 2014 helps the FRA to distribute grants and new fiscal year 2014 omnibus funding. It also allows unused funds from the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program to be distributed to other projects.
“These projects are examples of the positive work we could do if we had predictable, dedicated funding for rail,”
Transportation Secretary
Anthony Foxx said. “The GROW AMERICA Act is a blueprint for continued economic growth that will help us further strengthen rail’s safety record, close the nation’s infrastructure deficit, and modernize the nation’s freight and passenger rail network.”
The funds were distributed throughout the country to a wide variety of projects. California DOT received grants of $2,23 million and $2.8 million; Illinois DOT received $2 million and $3 million; Transportation Technology Center Inc. received $432,000; Amtrak received $2.64 million; ARINC Inc. received $5 million; and Metropolitan Transportation Authority received $3 million.
“Enhancing grade crossing safety, investing in the deployment of PTC, and funding planning efforts are investments that will make our rail network safer, more reliable, and efficient,” acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg said. “Continuous investment in rail infrastructure will enable us to meet the growing demand for rail and to keep people living along rail lines safe.”
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