Rail Line Relocation and Improvement

 

To provide financial assistance for rail line relocation and improvement projects.

Active 20.320 Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 Five projects were completed in FY 2016
Fiscal Year 2018 One project was completed in FY 2018 to upgrade the lead track from an industrial lead to a Class 1 track.
Fiscal Year 2019 One project was completed in FY 2019 to upgrade the lead track from an industrial lead to a Class 1 track.
Fiscal Year 2020 Most projects are complete and the grants closed. There were no projects completed during FY 2020.
Fiscal Year 2021 FRA completed and closed two projects that 1) completed preliminary engineering and environmental work to remove the vertical obstructions along a rail line running through a tunnel and 2) reduced the potential for vertical slope failure and the resulting loss of service and potential derailments. FRA does not anticipate receiving additional funding for this program.
Fiscal Year 2022 FRA anticipates the completion of one remaining open project that will develop environmental documentation and permits to establish new intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. FRA does not anticipate receiving additional funding for this program.
Fiscal Year 2023 FRA anticipates the completion of one remaining open project that will develop environmental documentation and permits to establish new intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest. FRA does not anticipate receiving additional funding for this program.
Fiscal Year 2024 FRA does not anticipate receiving additional funding for this program. FRA anticipates archiving this Assistance Listing in FY 2024. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, 49 U.S.C. 20154 States, Political Subdivisions of States, and the District of Columbia States, Political Subdivisions of States, and the District of Columbia See Application Procedure 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. 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, FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications, SF LLL - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. Applications selected for funding would be announced after the application review period. FRA will contact applicants with successful applications after announcement with information and instructions about the award process. Notification of a selected application is not an authorization to begin proposed project activities. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Selection criteria were included in SAFETEA-LU and the Final Rule establishing the program. For the competitive grant program, applications proceeded through a three-part review process: 1. Screening for completeness and eligibility; 2. Evaluation of eligible applications by technical panels applying the selection criteria; and 3. Project selection by the FRA For the Congressionally directed grants, the work and cost estimates must be reasonable and within the scope of the program regulations and the appropriation language. Grants may only be awarded for construction projects that improve the route or structure of a rail line and (1) are carried out for the purpose of mitigating the adverse effects of rail traffic on safety, motor vehicle traffic flow, community quality of life, or economic development; or (2) involve a lateral or vertical relocation of any portion of the rail line. Pre-construction activities, such as preliminary engineering, design, and costs associated with project-level compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), are considered part of the overall construction project and are also eligible for funding. However, activities such as planning studies and feasibility analyses are not eligible for funding. 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. 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 C.F.R. 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. 10%. All grantees will be required to provide at least a 10% match from non-program funds toward the grant budget

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. Assistance is usually awarded upon request for reimbursement. Assistance is usually awarded upon request for reimbursement. If necessary to contact a regional office, the contact information will be in a grant agreement 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 69-0716-0-1-401 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$0.00; FY 20$0.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17$0.00; FY 16$3,000,000.00; - There were no awards in FY 2022 - none expected in FY 2023. There were no awards in FY 2022 - none expected in FY 2023. These two Acts and associated regulations provide the primary guidance for this program: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and related laws; the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59); 49 CFR Part 262. Grant recipients must follow all administrative and national policy requirements including: procurement standards, compliance with Federal civil rights laws and regulations, disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), debarment and suspension, drug-free workplace, FRA's and OMB's Assurances and Certifications, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), environmental protection, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and environmental justice. Fiscal Year 2016 An example of a project that was completed in FY 16 is the relocation and reconstruction of a rail line that will facilitate the creation of the Osceola Avenue multimodal trail and eliminate important safety issues caused by concurrent rail, vehicular and pedestrian use. Another example of a project that was completed in FY16 is the rehabilitation of approximately 40 miles of the railroad in order to accommodate 286,000 pound loads, increase train speeds to up to 25 mph, and reduce Excepted Track Classification.
Fiscal Year 2017 An example of a project that will be completed in FY17 involves upgrading the Lead track from an industrial lead with speeds limited to approximately 5 mph, to a Class 1 track, which will allow for speeds of 10 mph. Another example of a project that will be completed in FY17involves relocating the Railroad Line to reduce the potential for a slope failure and the resulting loss of service and possible derailment.
Fiscal Year 2018 An example of a project completed in FY 2018 included removing and reconstructing existing track with heavy rail, improving street running conditions, and replacing, as required, utility crossings.
Fiscal Year 2019 An example of a project completed in FY 2019 included removing and reconstructing existing track with heavy rail, improving street running conditions, and replacing, as required, utility crossings.
Fiscal Year 2020 Most projects are complete and the grants closed. There were no projects completed during FY 2020.
Fiscal Year 2021 No new projects were funded in FY 2021. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2015.
Fiscal Year 2022 No new projects were funded in FY 2022. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2015.
Fiscal Year 2023 No new projects will be funded in FY 2023. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2015.
Fiscal Year 2024 No new projects will be funded in FY 2024. The last obligation under the program occurred in FY 2015.