The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced over $368 million in grants to fund 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
The funds are being allocated under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program. These investments will help in the modernization of rail infrastructure and supply chains. They will help reduce congestion and help goods and people reach their destinations more quickly and efficiently. The program is set to create good-paying jobs and benefit all communities across the country.
Overview
The selected projects announced will improve and expand passenger rail and fund conventional and high-speed rail. They will also increase supply chain resilience and fluidity, support short-line railroads, invest in new technology and safety advancements, and benefit the rail industry workforce development and training activities – helping create jobs and increase economic growth.
CRISI aims to advance intercity passenger and freight rail projects that promote FRA’s key goals of safety, economic growth, transportation equity, and sustainable and resilient infrastructure. CRISI-funded projects will enhance multimodal connections, address slow orders, and fix up the 100-year-old track to speed up the movement of goods from ports to rail to trucks to shelves. As the nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, these upgrades and expansions will help state and local governments and rail carriers meet renewed travel demand and strengthen supply chains.
By statute, 25% of this funding must be awarded to rural projects. This announcement includes nearly double the required investment in rural communities, underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to addressing the needs of rural communities. In addition, $87.6 million is for projects that support the development of new intercity passenger rail service, and $25.7 million is for capital projects or engineering solutions targeting trespassing, exceeding the required statutory minimums.
The complete statement can be read here.
