The Federal Railroad Administration issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity on August 14 for $244 million worth of grants through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements or CRISI program.

[Above photo by Norfolk Southern.]

That fiscal year 2019 grant money will fund projects that increase both freight and passenger rail safety, efficiency, and reliability, FRA noted in a statement, with a focus on projects that address congestion challenges, highway-rail grade crossings, upgrade short-line railroad infrastructure, relocate rail lines, improve intercity passenger rail capital assets, and deploy railroad safety technology.

“These CRISI grants support safe rail systems around the country, and I encourage eligible parties with creative and innovative projects to apply by the deadline,” added FRA Administrator Ronald Batory.

[On a related note, Batory testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in June to discuss the “State of the Rail Workforce” and as a part of his testimony touched upon the ongoing improvements being made to railroad safety.]

The agency added that preference for this latest round of CRISI grants will be given to projects where the proposed federal share of total costs does not exceed 50 percent and that at least 25 percent of the available funds will be reserved for projects in rural communities.