July 14, 2022

RAIL

MOVING AMERICA FORWARD

Draft Guidance on the Development and 

Management of Railroad Capital Projects
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FRA Grant Program Opportunities Under BIL

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

(Significantly Changed)

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

Interstate Rail Compacts 

(New)

This program will provide funding for interstate rail 

compacts' administrative costs and to conduct railroad 

systems planning, promotion of intercity passenger 

rail operations, and the preparation of grant 

applications.

$15 million

($3 million annually)

$15 million

($3 million annually) $30 million
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June 2022

FY22 Railroad 

Crossing 

Elimination 

Program NOFO 

Announced

October 2022 

FY22 Federal-state 

Partnership 

(National) NOFO 

Announced

Calendar of Upcoming FRA Publications

* Targeted selection period, subject to change

Stakeholder Engagement 

NOFO† Selections

NOFO Announcement 

Document Publication

April 2022 

Railroad Crossing 

Elimination 

Program

Listening Sessions

May 2022 

Benefit Cost 

Analysis 

Educational 

Webinar Held

May/ 

June 2022* 

FY21 CRISI

Selections 

Announced

May 2022

Corridor 

Identification and 

Development 

Program 

Framework 

Document 

Published

August 2022 

FY22 CRISI 

NOFO

Announced

November 2022 

Northeast Corridor 

Project Inventory 

Published

August/ 

September 

2022*

FY21 Federalstate Partnership 

Selections 

Announced

December 2022 

FY22 Federal-state 

Partnership 

(Northeast Corridor) 

NOFO Announced

June 2022

Northeast Corridor 

Project Inventory Notice 

for Comment Published

† NOFO – Notice of Funding 

Opportunity
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Objectives of FRA Guidance

• Establish consistent project guidance across FRA grant programs

• Enhance sponsor success in implementing rail projects with clear development 

and management practices to guide sponsors of all backgrounds and experience 

levels

• Enhance administrative efficiency and effective delivery of FRA-funded projects 

by appropriately requiring compliance through Notices of Funding Opportunity 

(NOFO) and grant agreements

• Set transparent expectations for project management—harmonized with Federal 

Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) best 

practices

• Build industry capacity and enhance investment outcomes that advance National 

passenger rail investment
5

Scope of Draft Guidance

• Addresses all project types and 

all stages of the project lifecycle

• Defines “Major Project” for FRA 

railroad programs

o Reflects FRA, FHWA and 

FTA experience

o Aligned with FTA’s and Federal-State 

Partnership NOFO

 Defined as: over $300M total project cost and at 

least $100M federal assistance

o Aligns project management methods with FHWA and FTA

Rendering of Portal North Bridge, NJ; image credit Amtrak
6

Project Lifecycle Stages

• Multi-state Regional 

Planning

• Corridor Planning

• Project Identification

• Purpose & Need

• Project Planning

• Conceptual 

Engineering

• Consideration of 

alternatives

• Stakeholder 

Engagement

• NEPA

• PE

• Cost Estimate

• Budget and Schedule

• Project Management 

Plan & Financial Plan

• Procurement Strategy

• Stakeholder 

Agreements

• Final Engineering

• Final Budget and 

Schedule

• Procurement Process

• Project Agreements

• Refined Project 

Management Plan & 

Financial Plan

• Right-of-Way 

Acquisition

• Early work and 

Relocations

• Capital Construction

• Equipment Acquisition

• Utility Construction

• Financing Costs

• Construction 

Oversight

• Testing and 

Commissioning

• Project use 

• Project Benefits 

Assessments

• Project Lookback 

Analysis

IMPLEMENTATION STAGES
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Capital Project Management

• Four key project management tools and processes

• Potential to invoke guidance through NOFOs and grant agreements

1. Project Management Plan 

• Major Projects: 49 U.S.C. § 22903

2. Schedule

3. Capital Cost Estimate 

• Major Project cost and schedule risk assessment

4. Financial Plan

• Major Projects - Adapted FHWA guidance
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Suggested Topics for Discussion

• Definitions within the Guidance document

• The project lifecycle stages

• Milestone activities relating to planning, engineering/design, environmental 

review, and project management tools

• Differences between non-major and major projects

• Any other suggestions for enhancing the Guidance

• Application of Guidance to railroad projects receiving financing/funding under 

the DOT credit and grant programs

Submit comments to docket number FRA-2022-0035 and be submitted at https://regulations.gov