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.

Active 20.326 Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2019 FRA received applications requesting FY 2017 and 2018 funds ($272,250,000) and announced the selection of projects that will reduce the state of good repair backlog and improve intercity passenger rail performance.
Fiscal Year 2020 FRA received applications requesting FY 2019 and 2020 funds and announced the selection of projects that will reduce the state of good repair backlog and improve intercity passenger rail performance.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY 2021, FRA obligated 5 grants for over $80 million from previous year NOFOs. FRA announced the selection of $291 million in funding for 11 projects in 9 States from the FY 2019 and FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunities.
Fiscal Year 2022 In FY 2022, FRA published the FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity for an estimated $198 million. FRA has obligated 3 grants for over $49 million and continues to obligate additional selections from all previous year NOFOs as environmental reviews and other prerequisites are completed.
Fiscal Year 2023 In FY 2023, FRA published a FY 2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity making FY 2022 funds available. FRA will continue to obligate selections from all previous year NOFOs as environmental reviews are completed. FRA published an amendment to that notice in February of 2023 to add supplemental funds and extend the application submittal due date for projects not located on the Northeast Corridor. FRA published the 2022 Northeast Corridor Project Inventory on November 15, 2022.
Fiscal Year 2024 FRA anticipates awarding projects that will reduce the state of good repair backlog, improve performance, or expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service. Sections 11103 and 11302 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) (2015), Public Law 114-94, 49 U.S.C. 24911
Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, Div. K, Tit. I, Public Law 115-31
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Div. L, Tit. I, Public Law 115-141
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, Div. G, Tit. I, Public Law 116-6
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Div. H, Tit. I, Public Law 116-94
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Div. L, Tit. I, Public Law 116-260
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Div. L, Tit. I, Public Law 117-103 (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). SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance); SF 424A - Budget Information for Non-Construction or SF 424C Budget Information for Construction; SF 424B - Assurances for Non-Construction or SF 424D - Assurances for Construction; and FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications. Other documents may be required as pre-requisites to funding based on program type; documentation demonstrating applicant eligibility (for applicants other than States); National Environmental Policy Act documentation for construction projects and service development programs; program-specific Assurances and Certifications; planning and engineering documentation. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. An initial review of the applicant, project application and eligibility. The required documents for an application package are: Project Narrative, Statement of Work, Benefit-Cost Analysis, Environmental Compliance Documentation, SF424 - Application for Federal Assistance, SF 424C - Budget Information for Construction, or, for an equipment procurement project without any construction costs, or SF 424A - Budget Information for Non-Construction, SF 424D - Assurances for Construction, or, for an equipment procurement project without any construction costs, or SF 424B - Assurances for Non-Construction, and FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications. Application is then reviewed and rated against the key criteria set forth in the NOFO. 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. Not applicable. Not applicable. Applications proceed through a three-part application review process, as follows: o Screening applications for completeness and eligibility; o Evaluating the technical merit and benefits of eligible applications; and o Selecting projects for funding FRA will give preference to projects for which: o Amtrak is not the sole applicant; o Applications were submitted jointly by multiple applicants; o 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. 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. Performance Reports: Grant recipients will be monitored periodically by FRA to ensure that the project goals, objectives, performance requirements, timelines, milestones, budgets, and other related program criteria are being met. Monitoring may include onsite visits or detailed, interactive desk reviews. In addition, grantees are provided with intensive technical assistance from grants staff on a daily basis. Each applicant selected for funding must collect information and report on the project's performance using measures mutually agreed upon by FRA and the grantee to assess progress in achieving strategic goals and objectives. No additional requirements. During the course of its activities under a grant agreement and for three years thereafter, the applicant must agree to retain intact and to provide any data, documents, reports, records, contracts, and supporting materials relating to its performance under the agreement as FRA may require. Reporting and record-keeping requirements are set forth in 2 CFR Part 200 for private non-profit and for-profit Grantees. Closeout does not alter these requirements. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. 20%. The Federal share of total project costs under this section shall not exceed 80 percent.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. 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. None/Not specified. Matthew Lorah
Chief, Grant & Loan Program Development Division,
Office of Rail Program Development
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, DC 20590 US
Matthew.Lorah@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 579-1074 https://railroads.dot.gov/ 69-2810-0-1-401 (Project Grants) FY 22$49,211,100.00; FY 23 est $300,000,000.00; FY 24 est $3,832,000,000.00; FY 21$65,520,761.00; FY 20$66,892,065.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17$0.00; FY 16$0.00; - Grants within these programs ranged from $6,521,957 to $55,100,000 with an average of $23,381,680. Grants within these programs ranged from $6,521,957 to $55,100,000 with an average of $23,381,680. Recipients of funds must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including, without limitation, the Constitution of the United States; the conditions of performance, nondiscrimination requirements, and other assurances made applicable to the award of funds in accordance with regulations of the Department of Transportation; and applicable Federal financial assistance and contracting principles promulgated by the Office of Management and Budget. In complying with these requirements, recipients, in particular, must ensure that no concession agreements are denied or other contracting decisions made on the basis of speech or other activities protected by the First Amendment. If the Department determines that a recipient has failed to comply with applicable Federal requirements, the Department may terminate the award of funds and disallow previously incurred costs, requiring the recipient to reimburse any expended award funds. Examples of administrative and national policy requirements include: 2 CFR Part 200; procurement standards; compliance with Federal civil rights laws and regulations; requirements for disadvantaged business enterprises, debarment and suspension requirements, and drug-free workplace requirements; FRA's and OMB's Assurances and Certifications; Americans with Disabilities Act; safety requirements; NEPA; environmental justice requirements; performance measures under 49 U.S.C. 22907(f); grant conditions under 49 U.S.C. 22905, including the Buy America requirements, the provision deeming operators rail carriers for certain purposes and grantee agreements with railroad right-of-way owners for projects using railroad right-of way. See an example of standard terms and conditions for FRA grant awards at https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/L19057. Fiscal Year 2020 11 intercity passenger rail projects in nine states awarded that improve intercity passenger rail performance by funding capital projects to repair, replace or rehabilitate publicly owned or controlled railroad assets, thereby bringing them into a state of good repair.
Fiscal Year 2021 Examples of projects funded in FY2021 include; 1) the replacement and upgrade of signals, switches, track, power systems and related infrastructure at Boston South Station and 2) replacement and upgrade of obsolete signal, train control, and crossing equipment on a 60-mile section of right-of-way used by Amtrak intercity service, North County Transit District commuter service, and freight rail.
Fiscal Year 2022 Examples of projects funded in FY 2022 include; 1) protection of track bed along a single-track segment of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor and 2) the upgrade of approximately 10 miles of Track 2 to FRA Class 3 standards, and install Rule 562 in-cab, no-wayside bi-directional signals improvements.
Fiscal Year 2023 Examples of projects anticipated for funding in FY 2023 include repair, replacement, or rehabilitation of qualified railroad assets to reduce the state of good repair backlog and improve intercity passenger rail performance.
Fiscal Year 2024 Examples of projects anticipated for funding in FY 2024 include repair, replacement, or rehabilitation of qualified railroad assets to reduce the state of good repair backlog and improve intercity passenger rail performance.