February 16, 2023

RAIL

MOVING AMERICA FORWARD

Presented by:

Peter Schwartz • Wynne Davis • Jenny Zeng • Deborah Kobrin

FY22 Corridor Identification and Development 

Grant NOFO Webinar
2

Presenters

Deborah Kobrin

Transportation Industry 

Analyst, Rail Program 

Policy and Performance 

Division

Jenny Zeng

Transportation Industry 

Analyst, Rail Program 

Policy and Performance 

Division

Wynne Davis

Senior Advisor for Regional 

Outreach

Peter Schwartz

Acting Director,

Office of Railroad 

Planning & 

Engineering
3

Agenda

Corridor Identification and Development (CID) Program Overview

How to Apply

Best Practices

Question & Answers 

1

2

3

4
4

FY22 Corridor Identification 

and Development

Program Overview
5

Corridor ID Timeline

November 15, 2021

Enactment of the BIL

01 02

May 13, 2022

FRA established the Corridor 

ID Program within 180 days of 

enactment

04

May 13, 2023

First Congressional 

report on the Project 

Pipeline due one year 

following Program 

establishment

December 2022

FRA publish a Notice of 

Corridor Solicitation and 

Funding Opportunity for the 

Corridor Identification and 

Development Program

03

September -

December 2022

Extensive outreach 

to Corridor ID 

potential sponsors 

January – April 2023

Extensive outreach to 

Class I railroads 
6

Late Summer 2023

Selections into Corridor 

ID program announced 

05 08

February 2024

2nd Congressional report 

on the Project Pipeline 

due one year following 

Program establishment

06

Fall 2023

Selections under Fed-State 

Partnership National 

announced 

Fall 2023- Spring 2024

Corridors selected under 

Corridor ID complete Step 1 

and begin Step 2 

07

Corridor ID Timeline
7

Expressions of Interest by Types of Corridors

New Service 

New Rail 

Line 

New Service 

Existing Rail 

Line 

Extensions Increased 

Frequencies 

Significant 

Trip Time 

Reduction 

Existing 

Service 

On May 13 FRA published a notice for expressions of interest in the Federal Register, 100 corridors different 

represented 

28 existing corridors 

25 EOIs from state

3 from other entities

13 extensions

10EOIs from states

3 from other entities

70 new corridors

41 EOIs from states

29 from other entities

Some corridors overlap
8

Expressions of Interest 

28 existing corridors 

25 EOIs from state

3 from other entities

13 extensions

10 EOIs from states

3 from other entities

70 new corridors

41 EOIs from states

29 from other entities
9

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Rail Development Goals

Renew Amtrak’s fleet & facilities 

and deliver high-quality intercity 

passenger rail service

Modernize the 

Northeast Corridor

Bring world-class passenger 

rail service to regions across 

the country

Build the foundation for a 

long-term rail program

Grow a safer, cleaner, 

more equitable rail 

system
10

Bring world-class 

passenger rail 

service to regions 

across the country

Build the 

foundation for a 

long-term rail 

program

Grow a safer, cleaner, 

more equitable rail 

system

Corridor ID Program Overview

Corridor ID creates a foundational framework for identifying 

and developing new or improved intercity passenger rail (IPR) 

services. Under the program, FRA will: 

Solicit proposal for 

implementing new or 

improving existing IPR 

services 

Select corridors for 

development

Partner with corridor 

sponsor to prepare (or 

update) a Service 

Development Plan 

(SDP) 

SDP includes a 

“corridor project 

inventory”

Corridor project 

inventories populate a 

prioritized “pipeline” of 

projects

Projects in the Corridor 

ID Pipeline are eligible 

for funding under FRA’s 

financial assistance 

programs
11

Establishing the Program – Significant Policy Positions

Corridor ID will be the 

primary mechanism 

for developing offNortheast Corridor 

intercity passenger 

rail corridors and 

projects for 

subsequent 

implementation

Corridor ID is a home 

for all types of 

Intercity Passenger 

Rail corridors—new, 

significant 

improvements, and 

modest 

improvements to 

existing service are all 

welcome

Corridor ID will 

regularly solicit 

proposals for 

additional corridors 

to enter the 

program—this is not 

a one-time 

opportunity 

Level of non-Federal 

commitment may be 

modest at the 

beginning but must 

grow as a corridor 

advances through the 

Program

Corridors/Projects 

that advance to the 

Project Pipeline 

should be ready for 

immediate 

implementation

(Final Design/ 

Construction)
12

Corridor ID Program 

Fed State Partnership National / Other Federal Funding Programs 

Restoration & 

Enhancement 

Program

Project 

Development

Project 

Planning Final Design Construction Operation 

Development Stages Implementation Stages 

Systems 

Planning 

FRA Project Lifecycle Stages – Corresponding FRA Funding Programs 
13

Selections made later 

this year will set the 

“baseline” for 

Corridor ID

Corridor ID map of 

selected corridors will 

illustrate FRA’s plan 

for passenger rail 

development across 

the country for new 

AND existing corridors

FRA’s goal is to align 

the two programs—

Corridor ID produces 

the Project Pipeline 

for FSP-N

In future funding 

cycles, projects 

included in the Project 

Pipeline will receive 

priority funding under 

FSP-N

2022 Selections—A Baseline Year for Corridor ID 
14

What does this mean for the different types of corridors?

New Service 

New Rail 

Line 

New Service 

Existing Rail 

Line 

Extensions Increased 

Frequencies 

Significant 

Trip Time 

Reduction 

Entirely New Service

Significant 

Improvement 

Existing Service 

Existing 

Service 

Incremental 

Improvement 

Existing Service 
15

What does this mean for the different types of corridors?

New Service 

New Rail 

Line 

New Service 

Existing Rail 

Line 

Extensions Increased 

Frequencies 

Significant 

Trip Time 

Reduction 

Level of Effort

Existing 

Service 

High High

Medium

Medium

Medium

Low
16

Service Development Plans—What Are They? 

Corridor sponsor, in 

partnership with 

FRA, defines the 

service and who it 

serves

What are your goals 

for new or improved 

service? 

Identify and engage 

stakeholders—host, 

operator

What are the 

alternatives to 

achieve the goals? 

What alternatives 

make sense and 

why? 

What are the 

improvements 

required, how much 

do they cost, and in 

what order should 

they be constructed? 

How do we pay for 

it? 

Who is in charge of 

which aspects of the 

program? 
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IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROJECT PLANNING

Elements of Preparing a Service Development Plan

Public 

Involvement

Environmental 

Analysis

Agency 

Coordination

ROUTE SERVICE INVESTMENTS DESIGN

Travel Demand 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis Fleet Planning Station and Access Planning 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Labor Planning Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning Governance

Implementation 

Phasing

PURPOSE AND 

NEED

SERVICE 

DEVELOPMENT 

PLAN
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IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROJECT PLANNING

Simple Service Development Plan – Corridor Station Improvement Program

Public 

Involvement

Environmental 

Analysis

Agency 

Coordination

ROUTE SERVICE INVESTMENTS DESIGN

Travel Demand 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis Fleet Planning Station and Access Planning 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Labor Planning Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning Governance

Implementation 

Phasing

PURPOSE AND 

NEED

SERVICE 

DEVELOPMENT 

PLAN
19

IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROJECT PLANNING

Moderate Service Development Plan – Existing Service Frequency Increase

Public 

Involvement

Environmental 

Analysis

Agency 

Coordination

SERVICE INVESTMENTS DESIGN

Travel Demand 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis Fleet Planning Station and Access Planning 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Labor Planning Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning Governance

Implementation 

Phasing

PURPOSE AND 

NEED

SERVICE 

DEVELOPMENT 

PLAN
20

IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROJECT PLANNING

Major Service Development Plan – New Corridor on New Rail Line

Public 

Involvement

Environmental 

Analysis

Agency 

Coordination

ROUTE SERVICE INVESTMENTS DESIGN

Travel Demand 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis Fleet Planning Station and Access Planning 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Labor Planning Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning Governance

Implementation 

Phasing

PURPOSE AND 

NEED

SERVICE 

DEVELOPMENT 

PLAN
21

Corridor ID “Step 2” Statement of Work – SDP Preparation/Updating

Public 

Involvement

Environmental 

Analysis

Agency 

Coordination

Service

Investments

Route

Travel Demand 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Fleet Planning

Station And 

Access Planning 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Labor Planning

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Governance

Implementation 

Phasing

Purpose and 

Need

Service 

Development 

Plan

Task 2: 

Preliminary 

Purpose & 

Need 

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Tasks 4 : 

Technical 

Analysis 

Task 6: 

Financial 

Planning

Benefit Cost 

Analysis

Task 7: 

Governance

Task 1: Project 

Administration 

Tasks 5: 

Preliminary 

Environmental 

Analysis 

Task 8: Service 

Development 

Plan
22

Solicitation/NOFO Overview 

& How to Apply
23

What is a NOFO?

KEY PARTS OF A NOFO

A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):

• Announces the grant opportunity 

• Contains details about the application requirements and procedures to 

request Federal funding for eligible projects
24

What information is in a NOFO?

KEY PARTS OF A NOFO

• Program Summary

• Key Dates

• Required Documents

• Addresses

• FRA Contact Information

• Table of Contents

• Executive Summary

• Eligibility Information

• Eligible Applicants

• Eligible Corridors

• Application and Submission Information

• Application Review Information

• Federal Award Administration

• Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
25

Where do I start?

25

Check the FRA webpage

• https://railroads.dot.gov/about-fra/communications/newsroom/pressreleases/fra-begins-soliciting-proposals-through-first-its

Click the link on 

the bottom of 

the page to 

access the NOFO
26

Where is the FY22 Corridor Identification Program NOFO? 
27

Search grants on Grants.gov: 

Where do I find “How to Apply” information?

Click the Opportunity Number 

to see the Synopsis
28

Summary information about the grant opportunity in Grants.gov: 

What is the Synopsis?
29

How do I apply?

• Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

• Register early in the Federal government's System for Award Management (SAM) 

o NOTE: SAM registration can take up to 4 weeks (longer if you do not have an 

Employer Identification Number)

• For Grants.gov, complete an Authorized Organization Representative profile and 

create a username and password

• Submit an application addressing all requirements outlined in the NOFO 

KEY STEPS
30

What do I include in my application?

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Corridor Narrative
31

What forms are required?

REQUIRED FORMS

• SF424 (Application for Federal Assistance)

o SF 424A – Budget info for Non-Construction

o SF 424B– Assurances for Non-Construction

• FRA F 30- Additional Assurances and Certifications

• FRA F 251- FRA’s Applicant Financial Capability Questionnaire (FRA F 251)

• SF LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (only required if reportable Lobbying 

activities exist)
32

Find Additional Information about the grant opportunity in Grants.gov at the 

bottom of the Synopsis page: 

Where do I find additional information and help?
33

Application Review and Selection Process

Each application is reviewed for completeness and 

eligibility to determine which applications move to 

the evaluation stage

Each complete and eligible application is evaluated 

by a panel of DOT subject matter experts using 

criteria outlined in the NOFO (FRA has reserved the 

right to engage corridor sponsors to jointly 

determine what to advance into the program)

Final decisions are made by taking into account the 

evaluation and selection criteria outlined in the 

NOFO 

1. Intake and Eligibility

2. Evaluation

3. Selection

4. Announcement

FRA press release announces selections approximately 

6 months following application due date
34

FRA’s Competitive Grants Application Process webpage: https://railroads.dot.gov/grantadministration/applying-grants/competitive-grants-application-process

Grant Application Process
35

• Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity 

(NOFO) completely and carefully to 

understand the criteria for eligibility and 

selection, and what information each 

application must include 

• Provide a clear project title that tells us 

who you are and what the project is about

Best Practices – Helpful Hints
36

 Structure your corridor narrative 

in accordance with the outline 

specified in the NOFO

 Include all elements identified in 

the outline

 Follow the instructions for 

each element

 Adhere to 15-page limit

Corridor Narrative Outline

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
37

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

Corridor Narrative Outline

I. Cover Page
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Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

Corridor Narrative Outline

 Briefly describe the project in 

4 to 6 sentences, challenges the 

Corridor aims to address, and 

summarize intended outcomes 

and anticipated benefits

 Think of this section of the 

application as your elevator pitch 

for the project to the DOT 

Secretary and FRA Administrator

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
39

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

 If applicable, indicate amount of nonProgram funding (Federal and nonFederal) available

 Identify source(s) of non-Program 

funds

 If non-Program Federal funding is 

available, demonstrate applicant's 

determination of eligibility for such 

use 

 Note if any available non-Program 

funding must be obligated or spent by 

a certain date

 Whether Federal funding for the 

Corridor has previously been sought

Corridor Narrative Outline

III. Corridor Funding

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
40

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

 Amtrak

 States

 Groups of States

 Entities implementing interstate 

compacts

 Regional passenger rail authorities

 Regional planning organizations

 Political subdivisions of a State

 Federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Corridor Narrative Outline

III. Corridor Funding

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
41

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

 Please read the NOFO for the 10 

elements requested: 

Corridor Narrative Outline

V. Detailed Corridor Description

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
42

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

 Geospatial data (latitude and 

longitude or railroad mileposts)

 Include a map of the project

 Congressional districts the 

Corridor may traverse

Corridor Narrative Outline

VI. Corridor Location

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
43

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

Corridor Narrative Outline

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals

 Include a separate section in the 

corridor narrative focused on 

how the project meets each of 

the evaluation and selection 

criteria

 DO NOT rely solely on the 

contents of the “detailed corridor 

description” section to satisfy this 

requirement — it is OK to repeat 

key points in this section

 Quantify benefits whenever 

possible
44

Best Practices – Corridor Narrative

 As applicable, efforts to consider 

climate change, sustainability 

impacts, improve equity, and 

reduce barriers to opportunity 

 How Corridor planning and 

development may advance goodpaying, quality jobs and 

workforce programs and hiring 

policies that promote workforce 

inclusion. 

 Additional information about 

strong labor standards

Corridor Narrative Outline

VIII

I. Cover Page

II. Corridor Summary

III. Corridor Funding

IV. Applicant Eligibility

V. Detailed Corridor Description

VI. Corridor Location

VII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

VIII. DOT Strategic Goals
45

Recap &

Reminders
46

• Always read the NOFO carefully

• Address all the evaluation and selection 

criteria on which you will be rated

• By clearly and directly responding to the 

criteria, your application will be easier to 

read and evaluate

• Don’t bury key points!

Recap & Reminders
47

QUESTIONS?
Contact Us

Federal Railroad Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Connect with us USDOTFRA

To learn more about FRA Competitive Discretionary Grant 

Programs, visit: https://www.fra.dot.gov/grants

Notice of Funding Opportunity Process:

Fra-nofo-support@dot.gov

Corridor Identification and Development 

Program and Application Process: 

PaxRailDev@dot.gov