AASHTO Journal - FRA Issues $1.24B in Rail Safety Infrastructure Grants

The Federal Railroad Administration recently issued $1.24 billion in rail safety infrastructure funding; providing fiscal support to 91 projects across 37 states via the FY 25-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program.

[Above photo by CSX Transportation]

The agency said that funding will go toward eliminating unsafe highway-rail conflict points, closing at-grade crossings, and upgrading railroad traffic signals.

“[These] grants will provide communities nationwide with funding to make highway-rail grade crossings safer and reduce the occurrence of blocked crossings,” said FRA Administrator David Fink in a statement. “These strategic investments will save lives, prevent accidents, and reduce delays – allowing our nation’s railroads to focus on keeping America moving.”

A host of state departments of transportation received funds via this round of Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program disbursements for a variety of rail safety projects in their respective regions of the country:

The Connecticut Department of Transportation received a $6.1 million grant to support the Hartford Line Sealed Corridor Project, which seeks to improve and/or close roughly 35 at-grade highway-rail crossings along the Hartford Line between the towns of New Haven and Enfield. The agency will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to this project.
The Georgia Department of Transportation received grants for three projects. The first is a $1.5 million planning grant to improve safety at two at-grade crossings owned by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern along Georgia State Route 307 in Chatham County. The Georgia DOT will contribute a 25 percent non-federal cost share to that project. The second is a $31.7 million grant to help upgrade railroad preemption interconnection to traffic signals at approximately 31 high-risk railroad crossings across urban and rural areas, with Georgia DOT contributing a 25 percent non-federal cost share to that initiative. The third is a $1.5 million planning grant to develop grade separations plus supplemental safety and technological improvements at four crossings in Waycross, owned by CSX to mitigate impacts associated with frequent and extended blockages. Georgia DOT will contribute a 25 percent non-federal cost share to that project.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) received a $640,000 planning grant to evaluate grade separation alternatives for two closely spaced at-grade crossings that intersect with BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad along Idaho Highway 54. The ITD will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that project, which may include funding from the City of Athol, the Idaho Forest Group, and BNSF.
The Illinois Department of Transportation received a $1.59 million planning grant to support future grade crossing or grade separation improvements at four closely spaced highway-rail grade crossings along the Colona Rail Corridor, which consists of 0.8 miles of the BNSF Barstow Subdivision rail line and 0.8 miles of the intersecting Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) Blue Island Subdivision line. The Illinois DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that project, which may include funding from BNSF and IAIS.
The Iowa Department of Transportation received an $800,000 planning grant to support a comprehensive corridor safety study for a portion of Iowa’s BNSF rail line that carries freight and Amtrak long-distance service and currently includes approximately 114 highway-rail crossings. The project will identify and prioritize corridor improvements to reduce conflict points and safety incidents; enhance mobility and connectivity; and improve reliability of rail service. The Iowa DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that effort, which may include funding from BNSF.
The Maryland Department of Transportation received two grants. The first is a $1.4 million planning grant to study approximately 1,200 at-grade railroad crossings statewide for possible mitigation or closure, with a focus on 20 to 25 priority locations to close or separate in the future, with Maryland DOT contributing a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that effort. The second is a $9.6 million grant to help build the Brunswick Station Pedestrian Bridge; a proposed mixed-use pedestrian, cyclist, and lightweight emergency vehicle overpass over two sets of CSX Transportation tracks at the MARC Brunswick station in Brunswick. The Maryland DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that project.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation received a $30.3 million grant to support construction of a grade-separated flyover bridge structure and associated approaches to separate Front Street and First Street from the Boston & Albany Line railroad corridor in West Springfield. MassDOT will contribute a 25 percent non-federal cost share to that project – aimed at eliminating at-grade conflicts between roadway users and rail operations while improving freight movement – which may include funding from CSX Transportation.
The Michigan Department of Transportation received a $2.4 million grant to support the identification of existing conditions and mitigation strategies for crossing improvements along the high-speed Michigan Line corridor between the cities of Kalamazoo and Dearborn. The Michigan DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that initiative.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation received a $3.6 million grant to support installation of safety improvements at six at-grade crossings on the BNSF Hinckley Subdivision rail line in Pine and Isanti Counties. The project will upgrade the crossings from passive to active warning systems and improve the crossing surfaces and roadway approaches. MnDOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that endeavor, which may include funding from BNSF.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation received an $800,000 grant to support the development of a comprehensive corridor study of about 98 public at-grade railroad crossings on BNSF Railway’s Valley, Angora, Butte, and Sand Hills Subdivision lines within six counties of western Nebraska. The Nebraska DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that effort, which may include funding from BNSF.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation received a $1.2 million planning grant to support future grade separations at two at-grade crossings on BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcontinental Rail Corridor in Valencia County. NMDOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that endeavor, which may include funding from BNSF.
The New York State Department of Transportation received a $107.7 million grant to support the grade separation of Roaring Brook Road along the Metro North Railroad’s Harlem Line in the City of New Castle. The project seeks to eliminate the potential for crashes at a crossing that experiences over 9,000 vehicular crossings and 107 passenger trains per day, as the proposed overpass should facilitate the movement of people and goods to local residential, commercial, and academic centers in a safer and more efficient manner. NYSDOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that project.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation received a $35.8 million grant to support the upgrade of over 40 highway-rail grade crossing signal systems between the towns of Salisbury and Hickory along the Norfolk Southern’s AS-line. The NCDOT will contribute a 20.1 percent non-federal cost share to that endeavor.
The Texas Department of Transportation received a $46 million grant to support the future construction of a grade-separated overpass carrying RM 2871 over the Union Pacific Railroad and Aledo Road in Fort Worth. TxDOT will contribute a 28 percent non-federal cost share to that project, which may include funding from Tarrant County and Fort Worth.
The Utah Department of Transportation received two grants. The first is for $22.2 million to support the Sharp-Tintic Rail Connection Project, which seeks to close approximately 1.6 miles of the Tintic track and the seven crossings on that segment by constructing new track in the towns of Springville and Spanish Fork; relocating the rail line away from residential areas and improving the one remaining at-grade crossing. The Utah DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that endeavor. The second is for $2 million to help support the future grade-separation of SR-134 over two Union Pacific rail tracks in Pleasant View; eliminating an at-grade crossing and potential conflict point between trains and vehicles. The Utah DOT will contribute a 20 percent non-federal cost share to that project.

This is the latest tranche of railroad funding issued by FRA. In late October, the agency issued $2.3 billion to support 105 rail projects across 45 states and the District of Columbia through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements or CRISI grant program. Meanwhile, in August, FRA issued $5.3 billion investment to enhance rail safety and upgrade rail infrastructure across the country, as well as help purchase new trainsets for Amtrak.