Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grant Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.266
- Agency
-
Federal Highway Administration
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- Not on record
Program facts
- Treasury account
-
- 69-0548-0-1-401
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated .
About this program
The Federal Highway Administration provides funding through the Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grant Program (CFDA 20.266) for construction projects that eliminate hazards and improve safety at public railway-highway crossings, with the program operational as of the start of FY 2026.
The program funds the construction and safety improvement of railroad-highway grade crossing infrastructure, specifically those crossings operated or managed by eligible commuter authorities. Eligible applicants are commuter authorities as defined under 49 U.S.C. 24102 that experienced at least one National Transportation Safety Board-investigated accident between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018, for which the NTSB issued an accident report. Public or non-profit entities may also apply in partnership with an eligible commuter authority. Applicants are encouraged to partner with their State DOT, and awards may be made to State DOTs as pass-through grantees administering funds to a commuter authority as a subawardee. When an eligible commuter authority operates on a rail corridor owned by another entity, a letter of support from the rail owner is required.
CARSI is a newly restructured program—it was created under its current CFDA number in August 2025, consolidating what was previously tracked under CFDA 20.205 in FY24 and FY25. The source does not provide recent grant award data, award volumes, or assistance-type characterization under the new listing. The source also does not identify any grant opportunities currently open or recently posted on Grants.gov. Funding opportunity notices, application deadlines, and award criteria vary by project cycle and will be specified in individual notices of funding opportunity published by FHWA on Grants.gov. Recipients must retain project records and documents per 2 CFR 200.333 and comply with applicable obligation and expenditure deadlines specified in the notice of funding opportunity.
Objective and description
- Objective
The Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) program provides funding for the construction of projects which will eliminate hazards and improve safety at public railway-highway crossings.
- Description
The Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) program provides funding for the construction of projects which will eliminate hazards and improve safety at public railway-highway crossings. This Assistance Listing 20.266 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.205, please refer to former ALN 20.205 for FY24 and FY25 financial obligations. The new Assistance Listing 20.266 will be utilized by DOT at the start of FY 2026.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
An applicant must be a "commuter authority" as defined in 49 U.S.C. 24102, which is a State, local, or regional entity established to provide, or make a contract for, commuter rail passenger transportation. An eligible commuter authority must have experienced at least one accident investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018, and for which the NTSB issued an accident report.The applicant must be either: (1) a commuter authority that meets the eligibility requirements listed above; OR (2) a public or non-profit entity partnering with an eligible commuter authority. NOTE: Applicants are encouraged to partner with their State DOT and are encouraged to have their State DOT apply as the prime applicant for receipt of DOT Federal funding. As appropriate, awards may be made to State DOTs as pass-through grantees for administration of the funds to a commuter authority as a subawardee. Per 2 CFR 200.1, a pass-through entity is a non-Federal entity that provides a subaward to a subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal program. NOTE: If eligible commuter authority applicants operate on a rail corridor owned by an entity other than the commuter authority, a letter from the rail owners is required supporting the proposed project.
- Uses of assistance
See program notice of funding.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Information concerning time limitations associated with funding such as obligation or expenditure deadlines will be specified in the notice(s) of funding opportunity as made available on Grants.gov. Additional information can be found at: https://www.transportation.gov/rural/grant-toolkit/commuter-authority-rail-safety-improvement-grants
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Varies by project. FHWA determines criteria for selecting proposals based on the stated objectives of the funding opportunity.
- Award procedure
Varies by project. Generally, FHWA publishes a notice of funding, soliciting applications for assistance, reviews these applications, and determines which applications are most qualified for award. Please see the individual notice of funding for details.
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.266?
Assistance Listing 20.266 is Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grant Program, a federal grant program run by Federal Highway Administration (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grant Program?
Its CFDA number is 20.266: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
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