AASHTO Journal - FRA Issues $5B to Nat’l Railroad Partnership Program

The Federal Railroad Administration recently allocated $5 billion to a revised notice of funding opportunity or NOFO for the National Railroad Partnership Program to support projects that enhance safety on intercity passenger rail networks, including projects that improve roadway rail grade crossings.

[Above image by FRA]

“This funding will help advance [our] top priority of making railroads safer,” said FRA Acting Administrator Drew Feeley in a statement. “These funds will significantly enhance and strengthen grade crossing safety, along with other eligible uses related to passenger rail capacity and reliability.”

The agency added that this is a “reissuing” of a fiscal year 2024 NOFO that adds funding for FY 2025, including approximately $2.4 billion the FRA de-obligated from the California High-Speed Rail project.

That FY 2024 NOFO, originally published last September as the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, and the reissued FY 2025 NOFO include several important changes, including:

The repeal of diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements for rail projects covered under that program;
More emphasis on rail grade crossing safety projects within the program;
Supporting projects that ensure a more seamless travel experience, such as adding mothers’ rooms, expanding waiting areas, adding new family restrooms, creating children’s play areas, and other projects improving overall travel for families in U.S. intercity passenger rail stations.

Eligible applicants for National Railroad Partnership Program funding include states; an interstate compact among states; a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more states; a political subdivision of a state; Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a cooperative agreement with one or more states a federally recognized Native American tribe; and any combination of those entities.

The FRA noted that applications for funding from this NOFO are due January 7, 2026, with the agency adding that it will provide technical assistance to potential applicants prior to the deadline.