Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Guidebook for States, Local Governments, Tribal Nations & Territories

www.Build.gov

Webinar 5: Rail
Webinar 5: Rail

Agenda

● Welcome and BIL Overview – Ryan Berni, Senior Advisor, White House Infrastructure 

Implementation Team (WHIIT)

● Guidebook Overview – Stephanie Sykes, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, WHIIT

● Presentations

• Florence Chen, Associate Director, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation, DOT

• Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

• Paul Nissenbaum, Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development, FRA

• Morteza Farajian, Executive Director, Build America Bureau 

● Q&A 

● Closing Remarks - WHIIT

2

2
3

3

What is it?

>375 unique programs at over a dozen federal agencies 

>125 new programs across 9 federal agencies representing 

>25% of total spending

___________

>90% of these investments will be delivered by non-federal 

partners

~60% flowing through formula programs

~38% of funding contains provisions that allow for expanded 

federal cost sharing arrangements – particularly for rural and 

disadvantaged communities. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Our Accomplishments

• Over $100 Billion in first 

100 Days announced, allocated 

or headed to states, territories, and 

local governments.

• Key plans, offices set up and public 

notice periods for:

○ Clean Energy 

Demonstrations

○ Electric Vehicle Chargers

○ High Speed 

Internet/Broadband

○ Grid Modernization

○ Lead Pipes & Paint

○ Orphan Wells

○ Great Lakes Restoration
How to Use the Guidebook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

● Executive Summary

● Transportation

○ Roads, Bridges, and Major Projects

○ Passenger and Freight Rail

○ Public Transportation

○ Airports and Federal Aviation 

Administration Facilities

○ Ports and Waterways

○ Safety

○ Electric Vehicles, Buses, and Ferries

● Climate, Energy, and the Environment

○ Clean Energy and Power

○ Water

○ Resilience

○ Environmental Remediation

● Broadband

● Other Programs & Regional Commissions

4

4

A Roadmap to the BIL

An executive summary with total funding 

amount, listing of funded programs, existing 

technical assistance resources and what 

states can be doing to prepare

1 page on each program

■ Name

■ Agency

■ Program Description

■ Funding Amount

■ Period of Availability 

■ Who can apply

■ Eligible uses

■ Key dates/upcoming milestones

Sortable, searchable file is uploaded to 

Build.gov
Example Pages

55
Rail Information

6

6
Key Departmental Objectives

DOT will assess the project’s ability to meet one or more of these 

objectives:

77

Transformation of our Nation’s 

Transportation Infrastructure

Safety

Equitable Economic Strength, 

Improving Core Assets

Resilience, Addressing 

Climate Change

Racial Equity, 

Economic Inclusion
BIL: Rail Development Goals

8

8
Webinar 5: Rail

Funding Program Highlights

99

Program Name (DOT) Appropriated 

Funding Amount*

Next Milestones

Federal-State Partnership for Intercity 

Passenger Rail Grants (pg 56)

(Significantly Changed)

$36 Billion • Evaluation applications and make selections 

under FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity 

(NOFO)

• Conduct stakeholder outreach and develop NE 

Corridor inventory by Nov 14, 2022

• FY 2022 funding release date TBD

Amtrak National Network Grants (pg 58) $16 billion • Submit Fiscal Year 2023 spend plan, May 2022

Amtrak Northeast Corridor Grants (pg 59) $6 billion • Submit Fiscal Year 2023 spend plan, May 2022

* Amount provided in BIL, additional amounts 

authorized subject to appropriation
Webinar 5: Rail

Funding Program Highlights

1010

Program Name (DOT) Appropriated 

Funding Amount*

Next Milestones

Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and 

Safety Improvement Grants (pg 60)

$5 billion • Finalize selections under FY 2021 NOFO in 

Spring 2022

• FY 2022 funding release date Summer 2022

Railroad Crossing Elimination 

Program (pg 61) (New)

$3 billion • FY 2022 funding release date late Spring 2022

Restoration & Enhancement Grant 

Program (pg 62)

$250 million • FY 2022 funding release date TBD

Total Rail Funding: $66 billion

* Amount provided in BIL, additional amounts 

authorized subject to appropriation
Additional New FRA Programs

Corridor Identification and Development Program

● This program will identify new intercity passenger rail corridors, develop the necessary service 

planning elements, and create a non-NEC Project Pipeline for associated capital projects.

1111

Interstate Rail Compacts Grant Program

● This program will provide funding for systems planning, including studying the 

impacts on freight rail operations and ridership.
Current Opportunities for Feedback to FRA

Corridor Identification and Development Program Request for Information

● On February 7, FRA issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input into establishment 

of the Corridor Identification and Development Program.

● Deadline for comments is March 9, 2022

● Topic Areas for Feedback Include:

○ Roles and Responsibilities within the Program

○ Service Development Plans

○ Project Pipeline

○ Funding of Program Activities

○ Readiness of Proposals for Selection 

into the Program

○ Criteria for the Selection of Proposals

○ Selectivity of the Program 1212

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/02/07/2022-02450/request-for-information-for-thecorridor-identification-and-development-program
Build America Bureau

1313

Financing Options

RRIF RRIF Express - Expedited, Low-Cost Loans for 

Short Line & Regional Railroads

• Railroads 

• State and local governments 

• Government-sponsored authorities/corporations 

• Limited option freight shippers

• Joint ventures

• Class II & III Railroads

• Commuter railroads

• Joint ventures

• Acquire, improve, or rehabilitate intermodal or rail equipment or facilities

• Develop or establish new intermodal or railroad facilities

• Reimburse planning and design expenses relating to activities listed above

• Refinance outstanding debt incurred for the purposes listed above

• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

• Total project cost up to $150m

• Track improvement

• Bridge rehabilitation

• Rolling stock acquisition

• Planning and design

• Refinancing eligible debt (up to 75%)

New with BIL:

• Definition of rail service being reviewed

• Credit Risk Premium repaid to the borrower with interest when loan repaid

• Up to 75-year loans for some projects anticipated to last 50+ years

• Can submit unaudited financial statements w/Federal tax returns and IRS tax 

verifications 

New with BIL: 

Same as RRIF
Webinar 5: Rail

1414

Questions?

Build.gov

Intergov@dot.gov

Railroads.dot.gov/BIL

Next Sessions

Thurs. March 3rd at 4-5pm ET: 

Roads Bridges and Major Projects

Tues. March. 8th at 4-5pm ET: 

Safety

Thurs. March 10th at 4-5pm ET: 

Clean Energy and Power