2018-Cross Agency Categorical Exclusions (CE)s Available for Use 

In November 2018, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) joined the Federal Transit Administration 

(FTA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) joint environmental regulations at 23 CFR part 

771. This allows for use of the Cross-Agency CEs, which allows FRA project sponsors to apply an FHWA or 

FTA CE to an FRA project when the FHWA or FTA CE better reflects the project. 

The table below lists all FRA, FHWA and FTA CE options that can be utilized by FRA project sponsors. If 

there are questions about the application of any of the CEs for a project, you should contact FRA. 

Cross Agency CE Options §771.116 (d)

Any action qualifying as a CE under §771.117 or §771.118 may be approved by FRA when the applicable 

requirements of those sections have been met. FRA may consult with FHWA or FTA to ensure the CE is 

applicable to the proposed action.

Agency CE 

Number Name

§771.116 FRA categorical exclusions

FRA 1 Administrative Procurements

FRA 3 Planning or Design Activities

FRA 7 Financial Assistance for a completed activity

FRA 8 Hearings, meetings, or public affairs

FRA 9 Maintenance of existing railroad facilities

FRA 10 Emergency repair or replacement

FRA 11 Operating assistance to a railroad

FRA 12 Minor rail line additions or new tracks within the 

ROW

FRA 13 Property acquisition

FRA 14 Research activities on existing facilities

FRA 16 Modification for ADA purposes

FRA 17 Rehabilitation, reconstruction or replacement of 

bridges and other structures

FRA 18 Vehicle or equipment acquisition, rehabilitation, 

or maintenance

FRA 19 Safety and security improvements

FRA 20 Environmental restoration, remediation, and 

controls

FRA 21 Assembly or construction of facilities or stations

FRA 22 Track and track structure maintenance and 

improvements

§771.117 FHWA categorical exclusions

FHWA (c)(1) Planning, Research, NEPA Studies

FHWA (c)(2) Utilities

FHWA (c)(3) Bicycle and Pedestrian

Facilities

FHWA (c)(4) Activities in State’s Highway
Agency CE 

Number Name

Safety Plan

FHWA (c)(5) Transfer of Federal lands

FHWA (c)(6) Noise Barriers and Reduction

Actions

FHWA (c)(7) Landscaping

FHWA (c)(8) Fencing, Signs, Pavement

Markings, and Small Shelters, Signals, and 

Warning Devices

FHWA (c)(10) Acquisition of Scenic

Easements

FHWA (c)(11) Payback under 23 U.S.C. 156

FHWA (c)(12) Improvements to Rest Areas and Weigh Stations

FHWA (c)(13) Ridesharing Activities

FHWA (c)(15) Alterations to Facilities or

Vehicles to make them ADA accessible

FHWA (c)(21) Deployment of Electronics and Technology 

Devices

FHWA (c)(25) Environmental Restoration

and Pollution Abatement

FHWA (c)(26) Highway Modernization

FHWA (c)(27) Highway Safety or Traffic Operations

FHWA (c)(28) Bridge Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, or 

Replacement

FHWA (c)(29) Ferry Vessel Related

FHWA (c)(30) Rehabilitation or Reconstruction of Existing Ferry 

Facilities

FHWA (d)(4) Construction of Parking Facilities

FHWA (d)(8) Construction of New Bus

Storage and Maintenance Facilities

FHWA (d)(9) Rehabilitation or

Reconstruction of Rail and Bus buildings and 

Ancillary Facilities

FHWA (d)(10) Construction of Bus Transfer

Facilities

FHWA (d)(11) Construction of Rail Storage and Maintenance 

Facilities

FHWA (d)(13) Miscellaneous Actions

§771.118 FTA categorical exclusions

FTA (c)(1) Acquisition, installation, operation, evaluation, 

replacement, and improvement of discrete 

utilities

FTA (c)(2) Acquisition, construction, maintenance, 

rehabilitation

FTA (c)(3) Activities designed to mitigate environmental 

harm

FTA (c)(4) Planning and administrative activities

FTA (c)(5) Activities, including repairs, replacements, and 

rehabilitations
Agency CE 

Number Name

FTA (c)(6) Acquisition or transfer of an interest in real 

property

FTA (c)(7) Acquisition, installation, rehabilitation, 

replacement, and maintenance of vehicles or 

equipment

FTA (c)(8) Maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction 

of facilities

FTA (c)(9) Assembly or construction of facilities that is 

consistent with existing land use and zoning

FTA (c)(10) Development of facilities for transit and nontransit purposes

FTA (c)(11) transportation facilities damaged by an incident 

resulting in an emergency 

FTA (c)(12) Projects that would take place entirely in the 

ROW

FTA (c)(13) Federally funded projects within certain criteria

FTA (c)(14) Bridge removal and bridge removal related 

activities

FTA (c)(15) Preventative maintenance, including safety 

treatments

FTA (c)(16) Localized geotechnical and other investigations

* Additional CE information and descriptions found at 23 CFR §771.116, .117 or .118