The Federal Railroad Administration announced more than $2.4 billion for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C.
The money comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which some call the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It is administered through FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
The projects in this round of selections reflect the broad array of rail safety and service improvements eligible under the program. They include upgrading tracks, replacing or rehabilitating aging bridges, expanding port rail connections, and adding modern locomotives to fleets.
The CRISI Program is also the only federal grant program that prioritizes smaller, short-line railroads, officials said.
While most CRISI grants directly improve rail infrastructure, the feds said these investments also support the rail workforce and invest in those who will help maintain and operate the nation’s rail networks well into the future.
Federal funding will create new apprenticeship programs, expand training opportunities, establish partnerships with universities, and advance research. Officials said a grant awarded to the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen will help develop an effective strategy for integrating wayside hot box detectors to enhance safety and proactively address derailments caused by wheel and bearing failures.
