December 3, 2021

RAIL

MOVING AMERICA FORWARD

Federal Railroad Administration

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
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Introduction of the 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Amit Bose

Deputy Administrator
3

• On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 

a generational investment in America’s transportation network. It will:

o Modernize infrastructure. 

o Increase equity. 

o Create good paying jobs.

• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides never-before-seen funding amounts for rail 

in America. 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
4

Transformation of our Nation’s 

Transportation Infrastructure

USDOT Departmental Objectives

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

KEY DEPARTMENTAL OBJECTIVES

Safety

Equitable Economic Strength, 

Improving Core Assets

Resilience, Addressing 

Climate Change

Racial Equity, 

Economic Inclusion
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OST Grant Program Opportunities

Programs Purpose Appropriated Additional 

Authorized

Highway 

Trust Fund Total

National/Regional 

Significance 

(MEGA Projects)

Support multi-modal, multijurisdictional projects of national or 

regional significance.

$5 billion ($1 billion annually)

$10 billion 

($2 billion 

annually)

N/A $15 billion

Rebuilding American 

Infrastructure with 

Sustainability and Equity 

(RAISE)

Support surface transportation projects 

of local and/or regional significance.

$7.5 billion ($1.5 billion 

annually)

$7.5 billion 

($1.5 billion 

annually)

N/A $15 billion

Infrastructure for 

Rebuilding America 

(INFRA)

Offers aid to freight infrastructure by 

providing funding to state and local 

government for projects of regional or 

national significance. 

Cap on multimodal projects has been 

raised to 30% of program funds.

$3.2 billion $6 billion $4.8 billion $14 billion

SMART Grants

Provides grants to conduct 

demonstration projects focused on 

advanced smart city or community 

technologies and systems in a variety of 

communities to improve transportation 

efficiency and safety.

$500 million ($100 million 

annually)

$500 million 

($100 million 

annually)

N/A $1 billion
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Overview of the 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Paul Nissenbaum

Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development
7

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is:

• A robust investment into rail throughout the 

nation with dedicated funding for rail over 

the next 5 years.

• A boost to transportation funding for 

communities nationwide.

• An expansion of FRA’s existing competitive 

discretionary grant programs. 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
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-$1,000,000

$4,000,000

$9,000,000

$14,000,000

$19,000,000

$24,000,000

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY2020 FY2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026

FRA Program Appropriations (in Thousands, 000)

FY09-21 Actuals; FY22-26 Projected (if BID is enacted at fully authorized levels) 

Amtrak Competitive Grants

FRA Appropriations
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Overview of Grant Programs and Process

Doug Gascon

Chief, Program and Policy Development Division, Office of Railroad Policy and Development
10

FRA Grant Program Opportunities

Programs Purpose Appropriated Additional Authorized 

Over Five Years* Total

Consolidated Rail 

Infrastructure and Safety 

Improvements(CRISI)

To fund projects that improve the safety, 

efficiency, or reliability of intercity passenger 

and freight rail.

$5 billion 

($1 billion annually)

$5 billion 

($1 billion annually) $10 billion

Railroad Crossing 

Elimination (New)

To promote highway rail or pathway-rail grade 

crossing improvement projects that focus on 

improving the safety and mobility of people 

and goods.

$3 billion 

($600 million annually)

$2.5 billion 

($500 million annually) $5.5 billion

Federal-State 

Partnership for 

Intercity Passenger 

Rail

To fund capital projects that reduce the state 

of good repair backlog, improve performance, 

or expand or establish new intercity passenger 

rail service, including privately operated 

intercity passenger rail service if an eligible 

applicant is involved.

$36 billion 

($7.2 billion annually)

$7.5 billion 

($1.5 billion annually) $43.5 billion

Restoration & 

Enhancement

To provide operating assistance to initiate, 

restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail 

service.

$250 million 

($50 million annually from 

Amtrak National Network 

fund)

$250 million 

($50 million annually) $500 million

* At fully authorized levels
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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.

Corridor Identification and Development Program

Interstate Rail Compacts Grant Program

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

freight rail operations and ridership.

Additional New Programs
* Dependent on grant program and/or project type 12

The Lifecycle of Grants

Pre-Award 

(NOFO Process) Administration Monitoring/Oversight Closeout Award 

(Obligation Process) 

6 – 12 months 6 – 15 months 2 – 4 years 1 – 2 months

Key Activities

• NOFO Publication

• Technical 

Assistance/ 

Webinars

• Application Intake 

& Evaluation

• Briefings

• Project Selection

• Notification

• Terms and Conditions

• Budget and SOW 

Development

• Environmental Clearances *

• Engineering Review *

• Performance Measures *

• Stakeholder Agreements *

• Creating Grant Award in 

Grant Solutions

• Grant Administration 

• Annual Monitoring

• Project Management

• Review Project Deliverables

• Provide Technical Assistance

• Enforcement and Compliance

• Grantee Notification

• Final Invoice 

• Final Performance 

Report

• Tracking Project Benefit 

Agreements
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Responsibility to be good stewards of 

taxpayer funds.

Grants Takeaways

Process takes time.

• FRA is looking at ways to streamline and improve.

• Looking to make sure grant programs are 

available throughout the year.

Need to Build Back Better, the first time!

• Starts by listening and engaging with YOU, our 

stakeholders.
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FRA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Website

For more information about the 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and 

rail, please visit our website.

https://railroads.dot.gov/BIL
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Next Steps

Paul Nissenbaum

Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development
16

What FRA is doing:

o Listening Sessions

• We want to ensure that we are administering funds in the most equitable way possible. 

• Although we cannot change the eligibility requirements, we want to provide the necessary 

support to our stakeholders.

o Educational Sessions

• Sessions focusing on the grant application process as well as on individual grant programs.

• Designed to empower and inform applicants so applications are more competitive.

What we need from YOU:

o Engagement in these sessions.

o Patience – long road ahead and we want to be partners through the journey.

Next Steps and Setting Expectations
Contact Us

Federal Railroad Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Connect with us at USDOTFRA

https://railroads.dot.gov/BIL