FRA makes $362 million available in CRISI grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for nearly $362 million through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program.
CRISI funds projects that reduce congestion, improve short-line and regional railroad infrastructure, relocate rail lines, enhance multi-modal connections and facilitate service integration between rail and other modes such as at ports or intermodal facilities. These grants will help build resilience across America’s supply chains, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force.
FRA explains the CRISI grants support an indispensable industry that has long been one of America’s economic engines. Freight railroads moved 1.6 million tons of materials and projects valued at more than $600 million while 32.5 million passengers used Amtrak annually, prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Most of those people and goods were transported on a nationwide network of privately owned rail lines. CRISI provides funding and a cost-sharing mechanism, helping public and private entities alike partner in maintaining this essential American critical infrastructure asset.
“CRISI is an opportunity to invest in safety and economic progress across the rail networks that support and connect America,” FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose said. “As the nation continues to recover from the pandemic, these projects will create jobs and improve communities. We expect applicants to address necessity, accountability, racial equity and climate change.”
Rail is a low-emissions option for transporting people and goods, and projects have the potential to improve or expand transportation options, mitigate safety risks and detrimental quality-of-life effects on communities, and foster a more diverse rail industry. CRISI grants will be awarded to projects that reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities of fostering safety and equitable economic strength; improving core assets; ensuring racial equity and economic inclusion; addressing climate change and resilience; and modernizing the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
CRISI is authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to assist in funding projects that improve intercity passenger and freight rail transportation safety, efficiency and reliability. Certain funding amounts are set aside for the following purposes:
Rural set-aside — No less than $93.7 million, or 25 percent, will be made available for rural projects.
Intercity passenger rail development — No less than $75 million will be made available for eligible projects that support the development of new intercity passenger rail service routes, including alignments for existing routes.
Capital improvements for trespass prevention — No less than $25 million will be made available for capital projects and engineering solutions targeting rail trespassing.
In addition, this funding opportunity incorporates Non-CRISI funding to provide grants to help implement FRA’s National Strategy to Prevent Trespassing:
Railroad Trespassing Enforcement — $2,034,296 will be made available for grants to fund applicable law enforcement wages to undertake trespass enforcement activities; and
Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention — $207,000 will be made available for grants to fund targeted outreach campaigns to reduce the number of railroad-related suicides that involve trespassing.
The NOFO will be published in the Federal Register on Aug. 31, but FRA has made a website version available. Application packages will be due by 5:00 p.m. E.T. 90 days after the NOFO is published. FRA will hold a webinar on the FY2021 CRISI NOFO on Sept. 21, 2021.
