High-Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service – Capital Assistance Grants

 

To assist in financing the capital costs of facilities, infrastructure, and equipment necessary to provide or improve high-speed rail and intercity passenger rail service. Funds were made available pursuant to three authorized programs: Intercity Passenger Rail Service Corridor Capital Assistance, Congestion Grants; and High-Speed Rail Corridor Development.

Active 20.319 Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 FRA requests $2.45 billion across multiple program areas related to capital assistance to states, including $550 million focused on the Northeast Corridor, including ongoing equipment overhaul needs, addressing the backlog of state of good repair capital needs, and replacing legacy equipment; $225 million to state corridors to support phase-in of fixed asset capital charges to states under PRIIA 209, $850 million to support long-distance route capital with equipment overhauls, replacement, stations, maintenance facilities and route operations; $475 National Assets, Legacy Debt and Amtrak PTC, including operating and capital needs for national reservations systems, security and policing, training centers, other national systems, legacy debt service and principal and PTC capital on Amtrak routes; and $350 million on upgrading Amtrak-served stations to become ADA compliant. Three projects were obligated in FY 16 for planning and safety improvements.
Fiscal Year 2017 Projects have been completed or will be completed in FY 17 that: 1. Build new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. Upgrade existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. Lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2018 23 projects were completed in FY 18 that: 1. built new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgraded existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. laid the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2019 7 projects were completed in FY 19 that: 1. built new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgraded existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. laid the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2020 9 projects were completed in FY 20 that: 1. built new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgraded existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. laid the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2021 Projects have been completed in FY 21 that: 1. build new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgrade existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2022 Projects have been or will be completed in FY 22 that: 1. build new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgrade existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2023 Projects will be completed in FY 23 that: 1. build new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgrade existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts.
Fiscal Year 2024 Projects will be completed in FY 24 that: 1. build new high-speed rail corridors that expand and fundamentally improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve; 2. upgrade existing intercity passenger rail corridors to improve reliability, speed, and frequency of existing services; and 3. lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail services through corridor and state planning efforts. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA), Public Law 111-5, 49 U.S.C. 26106 States (including the District of Columbia), groups of states, interstate compacts, public agencies established by one or more states and having responsibility for providing intercity passenger rail service or high-speed passenger rail service, Amtrak, Amtrak in cooperation with states. The general public, both users and non-users of intercity passenger rail service. State departments of transportation and other public agencies, although private transportation companies may participate through contractual arrangements with a State department of transportation. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Assurances and Certification forms including: (1) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transactions; (2) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions; (3) Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; (4) Certification Regarding Lobbying, (5) Assurances for Construction Programs - SF 424A, (6) Assurances Non- Construction Programs - SF 424B; and (7) Certificate of Indirect Costs Assurances. 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. Also see Application Procedure. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program requires submission of environmental impact information based on the project type. 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 application is then reviewed and rated against the key criteria set forth in the NOFO. Funds are awarded after review and approval the required pre-requisite documentation. Review the application package to ensure that all required documents are complete and signed by the appropriate person. Review the statement of work (SOW) and budget to ensure the appropriation language requirements are met. Review SOW for technical issues and budget for appropriate costs, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws and orders. After the SOW, schedule, and budget are acceptable to both FRA and the grantee, a grant agreement is drafted, reviewed, and signed upon agreement by both parties. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Applications will be individually evaluated against the following criteria, listed in order of priority: 1) achieving transportation solutions in a cost-effective manner; 2) achieving public benefits in a cost-effective manner; 3) sustainability of transportation and other public benefits; 4) management and minimization of project delivery risk; and 5) timeliness of project commencement and completion. Selection of applications for award will also take into account the following selection criteria: 1) regional balance necessary to create a nationwide high-speed rail and intercity passenger rail network and address urban and non-urban mobility needs; 2) balance and diversity of cost-effective technological approaches to improving HSR and IPR service; 3). organizing multi-State partnerships and encouraging community involvement where appropriate; and 4) previous HSIPR Program grants and previous State investments in high-speed intercity passenger rail. Assistance can be used to develop projects, programs and planning. This includes Projects which will result in the creation of new or substantially improved High-Speed Rail/Intercity Passenger Rail service, and will provide tangible and measurable benefits, such as on-time performance improvements, travel-time reductions and higher service frequencies resulting in increased ridership. Final Design, the last phase of project development, includes right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, the preparation of final design plans, construction management plans, system safety plans for construction management and operations, safety certification, any required collision hazard analysis, final construction cost estimates and detail specifications, as well as procurement of construction services and equipment. 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 on-site visits or detailed, interactive desk reviews. In addition, grantees are provided with intensive technical assistance from grants staff on a daily basis. 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. Match requirements depend on the legislative authority, project type, and the terms of the specific NGA.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Congress made $8 billion available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Congress continued to build upon the Recovery Act by making available an additional $2.1 billion through annual appropriations for FY 2009 and 2010, using the framework initially established by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA), bringing the total program funding to $10.1 billion. Funding appropriated under ARRA was awarded to grantees by September 30, 2012 and expended by September 30, 2017. Funding appropriated under PRIIA shall remain available until expended. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Funds are awarded through a standardized drawdown or “auto-pay” process for some grantees, and for others, the agency maintains the right to release funds through an invoicing method, with the ability to enforce a payment hold. Funding is obligated through cooperative agreements, and outlays occur as reimbursement. For complex corridor development programs, FRA will issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) that represents a contingent financial commitment to a State’s corridor program. A LOI does not represent an obligation or disbursement of funds. Funding will only be obligated and disbursed as milestones are achieved. Funds are awarded through a standardized drawdown or “auto-pay” process for some grantees, and for others, the agency maintains the right to release funds through an invoicing method, with the ability to enforce a payment hold. Funding is obligated through cooperative agreements, and outlays occur as reimbursement. For complex corridor development programs, FRA will issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) that represents a contingent financial commitment to a State’s corridor program. A LOI does not represent an obligation or disbursement of funds. 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/ 69-0719-0-1-401 (Project Grants) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$928,619,999.00; FY 20$0.00; FY 19$3,000,000.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17$2,000,000.00; FY 16$5,218,600.00; - No obligations were made in FY 2022 and FY2023. No obligations were made in FY 2022 and FY2023. Interim program guidance is provided within Notices of Funding Availability. Additional information is available as needed on the FRA website and from FRA grants management staff. Fiscal Year 2016 Examples of projects obligated in FY 16 include the planning and environmental documentation to support a future decision to fund and implement a major investment in a passenger rail corridor, as well as grade crossing and bridge improvements to improve safety and efficiency.
Fiscal Year 2017 Examples of projects planned for completion in FY 17 include planning, engineering, and environmental studies, as well as the construction of improved passenger access facilities and railroad infrastructure.
Fiscal Year 2018 Examples of projects funded in FY 2018 included corridor planning, engineering and environmental analysis, final design, and construction for the addition of new track, rail bridges, and grade crossing and signal improvements for high speed rail service.
Fiscal Year 2019 Examples of projects funded in FY 2019 included corridor planning, engineering and environmental analysis, final design, and construction for the addition of new track, rail bridges, and grade crossing and signal improvements for high speed rail service.
Fiscal Year 2020 Examples of projects funded in FY 2020 included corridor planning, engineering and environmental analysis, final design, and construction for the addition of new track, rail bridges, and grade crossing and signal improvements for high speed rail service.
Fiscal Year 2021 No new projects were funded in FY 2021. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2017.
Fiscal Year 2022 No new projects will be funded in FY 2022. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2017.
Fiscal Year 2023 No new projects will be funded in FY 2023. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2017.
Fiscal Year 2024 No new projects will be funded in FY 2024. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2017.