In a notice of funding opportunity issued on April 20, the Federal Railroad Administration made $311.8 million in grants available via its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements or CRISI program.

[Above photo by the North Dakota DOT.]

This round of CRISI funding aims to support freight and passenger rail projects that address congestion challenges, highway-rail grade crossings, upgrade short line or regional railroad infrastructure, relocate rail lines, improve intercity passenger rail capital assets, and deploy railroad safety technology, FRA said.

The agency also noted that $45 million of that overall $311.8 million is reserved for projects that require the acquisition of rights-of-way, track, or track structure to support developing new intercity passenger rail service routes.

The CRISI grant program will also reserve at least 25 percent of those available funds for rail projects in rural communities.

“We’re committed to addressing the unmet transportation needs of rural areas, which face unique challenges in safety, infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage,” said Ronald Batory, FRA’s administrator, in a statement.

He added that grant applications for this round of CRISI funding are due to the agency no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on June 19.

FRA recently issued $248.5 million in grants via its CRISI program on March 12 to fund 32 projects in 27 states.