October 20, 2022

RAIL

MOVING AMERICA FORWARD

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Presented by:

Mariam Ouhamou • Michael Johnsen • Melissa Hatcher

FY22 CRISI Grant Program NOFO Office Hours –

Featured Topics
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Presenters

Mariam Ouhamou

Supervisory Grants 

Management

Specialist

Michael Johnsen

Environmental 

Protection 

Specialist 

(Climate)

Melissa Hatcher

Management and 

Program Analyst

(Midwest Division)
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Agenda

Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Overview (Mariam Ouhamou)

Featured Topic: Efficient Locomotives (Michael Johnsen)

Featured Topic: Climate Initiatives (Michael Johnsen)

Featured Topic: CRISI Workforce Development (Melissa Hatcher)

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FY22 CRISI

Program Overview
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CRISI – Program Overview 

• To fund projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and/or reliability of intercity passenger and freight 

rail systems

GRANT PURPOSE

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

• Published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2022

• Over $1.42 billion available

• Applications due by 5 p.m. EST on December 1, 2022

• Please read the NOFO carefully and follow all instructions for completing and submitting your 

application

• Applications that are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be reviewed or 

considered for funding. There are no exceptions.
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• A State (including the District of Columbia) or group of States 

• An Interstate Compact

• Public agencies or publicly chartered authorities established by one or more States

• A political subdivision of a State

• Amtrak or other intercity passenger rail carrier

• Class II or III railroads and associations that represent a Class II or III railroad

• Any rail carrier or equipment manufacturer in partnership with at least one state entity, 

public agency, and/or local government

• Federally recognized Indian Tribe

• The Transportation Research Board (TRB) together with any entity with which it contracts in 

the development of rail-related research, including cooperative research programs

• A university transportation center engaged in rail-related research

• A non-profit labor organization representing a class or craft of employees of rail carriers or 

rail carrier contractors

FY22 CRISI – Program Overview 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
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• Wide Range of Rail Capital Projects

• Congestion mitigation

• Ridership growth facilitation 

• Enhancements to multimodal connections

• Improvements to short-line or regional 

railroad infrastructure

• Railroad Safety Technology 

• Track, Station, and Equipment Improvements for 

Intercity Passenger Rail

• Grade Crossing Improvements

• Rail Line Relocation and Improvement 

• Regional and Corridor Service Planning and 

corresponding Environmental Analyses

• Safety Programs and Institutes

• Research

• Workforce Development and Training

• New in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: 

• Measures that prevent trespassing

• Preparation of emergency plans for 

hazardous materials that are 

transported by rail

• Rehab or procurement of locomotives, 

provided that such activities result in a 

significant reduction of emissions

At least 25% of funds is reserved for 

rural projects

FY22 CRISI – Program Overview 

ELIGIBLE PROJECT CRITERIA
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• Federal share of total costs shall not exceed 80 percent.

• 20 percent minimum non-Federal match for CRISI-funded projects may 

consist of public sector (e.g., state or local) and/or private sector funding. FRA 

will not consider any Federal financial assistance, nor any non-Federal funds 

already expended (or otherwise encumbered), toward the matching 

requirement, unless compliant with 2 CFR part 200.

• Applicants must identify the source(s) of their matching and other funds, and

must clearly and distinctly reflect these funds as part of the total project cost.

• In-kind contributions, including the donation of services, materials, and 

equipment, may be credited as a project cost, in a uniform manner consistent 

with 2 CFR 200.306.

FY22 CRISI – Program Overview 

NON-FEDERAL MATCH REQUIREMENTS
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Featured Topic –

Efficient Locomotives
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2022 CRISI Locomotive Rehab and Replacement Provision

The FY 2022 CRISI program contains the following provisions for grants affecting locomotives (49 

U.S.C. 22907(c)16): 

(16) Rehabilitating, remanufacturing, procuring, or overhauling locomotives, provided that such 

activities result in a significant reduction of emissions

Provision Details
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“Significant Reduction in Emissions”

EPA Locomotive Tiers

Older & Dirtier Newer & Cleaner

NO TIER TIER 0 TIER 1 TIER 2 TIER 3 TIER 4 Zero-Emission

Must be retrofitted or replaced 

and removed from service 

w/Tier 2 or above

Replaces Tier 3 

or lower

May be replaced, 

reused, or resold
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Featured Topic –

Consideration of

Climate and Equity
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• EO 14008 Section 209: Grants not to be used to subsidize fossil fuel industry

• EO 14008 Section 213: Consider climate in grant reviews

• Justice40: 40% of DOT grant benefits to Justice40 Communities

Consideration of Climate and Equity in Grant Reviews

CLIMATE EQUITY

• System efficiency improvements

• Locomotive rehab & replacement

• Fuel-use reductions 

• Alternative and clean energy 

• CO2 estimates

• Modal shift from road & air

• Safety

• Access

• Fiscal benefits

• Reduction of air & noise emissions

• Neighborhood impacts

• Involvement

Executive Order 14008 and Justice40

Benefits

Applicants should note benefits of GHG reductions to environmental justice populations:

Executive Order 14008 Section 209: Grants not to be used to subsidize fossil fuel industry

Section 213: Consider climate in grant reviews

Justice40: 40% of DOT grant benefits to Justice40 Communities
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Featured Topic –

CRISI Workforce Development
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CRISI Grant Case Study: Short Line Training Center

• Iowa Northern Railway (IANR) and the American Short 

Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) 

partnered on this project

• FRA awarded IANR $5.4 million in FY20 CRISI funding

• The grant funds two distinct training programs:

• Online learning management system providing 

technical education and training

• Locomotive simulator training

• FRA’s Office of Safety is providing technical support for 

developing the training content
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Short Line Training Center: Learning Management System (LMS)

• The CRISI grant establishes an online platform (Learning Management System) for 

short line railroads to access a custom-built suite of railroad industry training 

programs available 24-7

• Custom railroad dashboards allow each railroad to:

o Assign curriculum

o Track completion of required courses

o Track each employee’s progress and performance
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Short Line Training Center: Locomotive Simulator Training

• FRA grant funds the purchase and deployment 

of four FRA Type II locomotive simulators:

• Iowa Northern Railway’s Training Center in 

Waterloo, IA

• Mobile Technical Training Center delivers to 

railroad employees on site

• Locomotive simulator training provides 

personalized, instructor-led seminars 

• Simulator scenarios include basic train 

handling, positive train control (PTC), and 

distributed power operations
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Short Line Training Center: Contact

For more information about the education and training programs offered under the Short Line 

Training Center CRISI grant, please visit:

https://www.aslrra.org/education/short-line-training-center/
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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

CRISI Program and Application 

Process: 

Mariam Ouhamou

Mariam.Ouhamou@dot.gov

Environmental Readiness:

Amanda Murphy

Amanda.Murphy2@dot.gov

Benefit-Cost Analysis: 

Michael JOHNSON

Michael.Johnson1@dot.gov

CRISI Program:

Deborah Kobrin

Deborah.Kobrin@dot.gov

Elena Gonzalez 

Elena.Gonzalez@dot.gov

Natalie Williford

Natalie.Williford@dot.gov

Michael JOHNSEN

202-540-8540

Michael.Johnsen@dot.gov

Or

FRASustainability@dot.gov