The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is accepting applications for a competitive grant meant to improve the highway-rail grade crossings as well as track along specific routes transporting crude oil, ethanol and similar energy products.
Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. EST Nov. 4.
The funds amount to a total of $10 million. They are part of the Railroad Safety grants for the Safe Transportation of Energy Products (STEP).
The FRA guidelines require states to include novel solutions with their applications, such as highway-rail grade crossings changes that would improve safety.
“The U.S. Department of Transportation has made increasing safety at highway-rail grade crossings, especially along routes transporting energy products, one of its top priorities,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “This money allows the department to support innovative ideas and solutions developed at the local level, and I encourage states to apply for this funding.”
In 2014, 269 people died because of highway-rail grade crossings collisions.
“Most of these deaths are completely preventable, and that is why the Federal Railroad Administration has redoubled its efforts to reverse last year’s upward trend,” FRA Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg said. “These funds will allow states to take innovative ideas and make them a reality to increase safety and decrease fatalities.”
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