The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded more than $1.4 billion in funding for 70 rail improvement projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. The investment, made through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, marks the largest amount ever awarded for rail safety and rail supply chain upgrades through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.
“Under President Biden's leadership, we are making historic investments in rail, which means fewer accidents and delays, faster travel times, and lower shipping costs for the American people,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These projects will make American rail safer, more reliable and more resilient, delivering tangible benefits to dozens of communities where railroads are located and strengthening supply chains for the entire country.”
“With unprecedented levels of funding through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FRA is advancing even more projects and laying the groundwork for further transformation,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “The selected projects will tackle issues facing communities and invest in a 21st century rail network yielding greater benefits – faster and more reliable deliveries of goods, safer communities, cleaner transportation and more jobs and workforce development opportunities.”
Projects will benefit every region of the country, with nearly two-thirds of CRISI funding flowing to rural communities.
In Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, more than $178.4 million in federal funding is going to Amtrak, in partnership with the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), for the Gulf Coast Corridor Improvement Project, which will restore passenger service in a region that has not had access to it since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Investments will make several track and signal-related improvements, grade crossing upgrades and station improvements to add two new daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.
Investments in Virginia will result in two new Amtrak round trips and three new commuter rail round trips on the RF&P corridor between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., – a critical link between northeast and southeast states.
“The Southern Rail Commission is excited to see the years of work by Amtrak and our other partners culminate in the CRISI grant award. There are so many federal, state and local leaders that have played indispensable roles in this announcement. We look forward to starting this Amtrak service very soon and doing our part to keep the Gulf Coast as a premiere vacation and business destination,” said Knox Ross, SRC chairman.
In California, more than 42.5 million in funding will add two additional daily round trips to the Capitol Corridor between the cities of Sacramento and Roseville and a project eliminating grade crossings in the Central Valley will bring high-speed rail one step closer to becoming a reality.
The full list of Fiscal Year 2022 CRISI project selections is available on FRA’s website.
