The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said recently that it will award $25 million in competitive grants for projects that increase rail safety and is seeking applications from railroads, local governments and states.
Grant funding is supported by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. Such safety-oriented projects might include infrastructure projects, bridge upgrades, new rail crossings and other improvements. The FRA will take applications until 5 p.m. EDT on June 14.
“As the country’s population increases, rail will play a larger role in transporting more people and more freight," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. "To do that safely, we must invest in our rail infrastructure. 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 Department of Transportation said the FRA has requested approximately $2.3 billion for infrastructure safety enhancements from the 2017 budget for 2017, including approximately $520 million for local rail project grants and $1.8 billion to support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and competitive rail infrastructure grants.
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