FRA 08-21 

August 26, 2021 

Contact: FRA Public Affairs

Tel.: (202) 493-6024 

FRAPA@DOT.gov

FRA to Fund Grants for Rail Improvement Opportunities 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration today announced a notice of 

funding opportunity, making available nearly $362 million through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure 

and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program. CRISI funds projects that reduce congestion, improve 

short-line and regional railroad infrastructure, relocate rail lines, enhance multi-modal connections and 

facilitate service integration between rail and other modes such as at ports or intermodal facilities. These 

grants will help build resilience across America’s supply chains, in support of the Biden-Harris 

Administration’s ongoing Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. 

CRISI grants support an indispensable industry that has long been one of America’s economic engines. 

Prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency, Amtrak annually carried more than 32.5 million 

passengers. Freight railroads annually moved 1.6 billion tons of materials and products valued at more 

than $600 billion. Most of those people and goods were transported on an unparalleled nationwide 

network of privately owned rail lines. CRISI provides funding and a cost-sharing mechanism, helping 

public and private entities alike partner in maintaining this essential American critical infrastructure 

asset. 

“CRISI is an opportunity to invest in safety and economic progress across the rail networks that support 

and connect America,” FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose said. “As the nation continues to recover 

from the pandemic, these projects will create jobs and improve communities. We expect applicants to 

address necessity, accountability, racial equity, and climate change.” 

Rail is a low-emissions option for transporting people and goods, and projects have the potential to 

improve or expand transportation options, mitigate safety risks and detrimental quality-of-life effects on 

communities, and foster a more diverse rail industry. CRISI grants will be awarded to projects that 

reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities of fostering safety and equitable economic strength; 

improving core assets and ensuring racial equity and economic inclusion; addressing climate change and 

resilience; and modernizing our nation’s transportation infrastructure. 

U.S Department of Transportation

Office of Public Affairs

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

www.transportation.gov/briefingroom 

News
CRISI is authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to assist in funding 

projects that improve intercity passenger and freight rail transportation safety, efficiency, and reliability.

Certain funding amounts are set aside for the following purposes: 

• Rural set-aside — Not less than $93.7 million, or 25%, will be made available for rural projects. 

• Intercity passenger rail development — Not less than $75 million will be made available for 

eligible projects that support the development of new intercity passenger rail service routes, 

including alignments for existing routes. 

• Capital improvements for trespass prevention — Not less than $25 million will be made 

available for capital projects and engineering solutions targeting rail trespassing. 

In addition, this funding opportunity incorporates Non-CRISI funding to provide grants to help 

implement FRA’s National Strategy to Prevent Trespassing: 

• Railroad Trespassing Enforcement — $2,034,296 will be made available for grants to fund 

applicable law enforcement wages to undertake trespass enforcement activities; and

• Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention — $207,000 will be made available for grants to fund 

targeted outreach campaigns to reduce the number of railroad-related suicides that involve 

trespassing. 

FRA will be holding a webinar about FRA’s FY21 CRISI NOFO on September 21, 2021, and interested 

entities and applicants should visit the FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar Series: Grants & Loans 

webpage for information. The NOFO will be placed on public inspection at the Federal Register on 

Monday, August 30 and published on Tuesday, August 31. An unpublished version of the NOFO can be 

viewed here. 

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