Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail

To fund capital projects that repair, replace, or rehabilitate publicly-owned or controlled railroad assets and improve intercity passenger rail performance.

The Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (Partnership Program) will support capital projects that repair, replace, or rehabilitate qualified railroad assets to reduce the state of good repair backlog and improve intercity passenger rail performance. Eligible applications may involve railroad infrastructure, equipment, or facility assets such as track, ballast, switches and interlockings, bridges, communication and signal systems, power systems, highway-rail grade crossings, stations, passenger cars, locomotives, maintenance-of-way equipment, and yards, terminal areas, and maintenance shops.

(A) a State (including the District of Columbia); (B) a group of States; (C) an Interstate Compact; (D) a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States; (E) a political subdivision of a State; (F) Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a cooperative agreement with 1 or more States; or (G) any combination of the entities described in (A) through (F).

Profit organization, Interstate, State, Local (A) a State (including the District of Columbia); (B) a group of States; (C) an Interstate Compact; (D) a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States; (E) a political subdivision of a State; (F) Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a cooperative agreement with 1 or more States; or (G) any combination of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).

Capital projects to replace or rehabilitate qualified railroad assets, including- (1) capital projects to replace existing assets in-kind; (2) capital projects to replace existing assets with assets that increase capacity or provide a higher level of service; (3) capital projects to ensure that service can be maintained while existing assets are brought to a state of good repair; and (4) capital projects to bring existing assets into a state of good repair. FY 2017, FY 18, FY 19 and FY20through FY 2022 Restrictions: 1% takedown. Qualified Railroad Assets in the Partnership Program under 49 U.S.C. 24911(a)(5) include infrastructure, equipment, or facilities that are: 1. Owned or controlled by an eligible applicant; 2. Contained in the planning document developed under 49 U.S.C. § 24904 and for which a cost-allocation policy has been developed under 49 U.S.C. § 24905(c), or is contained in an equivalent planning document and for which a similar cost allocation policy has been developed.

No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. Assistance is awarded upon request for reimbursement Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Funding is obligated through cooperative agreements or grants, and outlays occur as reimbursement. Funding will only be obligated and disbursed as milestones are achieved.

No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. Assistance is awarded upon request for reimbursement

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Applications proceed through a three-part application review process, as follows: • Screening applications for completeness and eligibility; • Evaluating the technical merit and benefits of eligible applications; and • Selecting projects for funding FRA will give preference to projects for which: • Amtrak is not the sole applicant; • Applications were submitted jointly by multiple applicants; • Proposed Federal share of total project costs does not exceed 50 percent; After applying the above preferences, FRA will take in account the key Departmental priorities; ) the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed project; the applicant's past performance in developing and delivering similar projects, and previous financial contributions; whether the applicant has, or will have-the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project; satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities; and the capability and willingness to maintain the equipment or facilities; and if applicable, the consistency of the project with planning guidance and documents set forth by the Secretary or required by law.

Applications selected for funding will be announced in a press release and on FRA's website after the application review period. FRA will contact applicants with successful applications after announcement with information and instructions about the award process. This notification is not an authorization to begin proposed project activities. A formal grant agreement or cooperative agreement signed by both the grantee and the FRA, including an approved scope, schedule, and budget, is required before the award is considered complete.

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

FRA is committed to responding to applicants in a reasonable and timely manner. Response times will vary based on size, scope, complexity and volume of applications.