Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program – Special Transportation Circumstances

To fund projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and/or reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail systems. This Assistance Listing 20.338 created in August 2025 was included in the previous ALN 20.325, please refer to former ALN 20.3

This program funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail.

State governments

Rail-related capital projects. Acquiring, constructing, improving, or inspecting rail equipment, track and track structures, or a rail facility; Expenses incidental to the acquisition or construction including pre-construction activities (such as designing, engineering, location surveying, mapping, acquiring rights-of-way) and related relocation costs, environmental studies and all work necessary for FRA to approve the project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related environmental laws and regulations; Highway-rail grade crossing improvements; Communication and signalization improvements; and rehabilitating, remanufacturing or overhauling rail rolling stock and facilities.

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

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: (1) Screening applications for completeness and eligibility; (2) Evaluating the technical merit and benefits of eligible applications; and (3) For South Dakota and Wyoming, the projects eligible for this directed funding must be freight rail Capital Projects in those states that are on a state rail plan developed under Chapter 227 that provide Public Benefits. For Alaska, projects eligible for this directed funding must be a freight or passenger rail-related Capital Project in that state. Applicants are not limited in the number of projects for which they seek funding. In addition to the eligibility and completeness review, FRA will prioritize projects that use data-driven and evidence-based methods to apply the DOT Strategic Goals.

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.

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.