More Than $1 Billion to Reduce Train-Vehicle Collisions, Blocked Railroad Crossings

FRA has awarded more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 123 rail projects, improving or studying more than 1,000 highway-rail crossings across the U.S. This announcement is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history. Combined with previous rail investments announced under the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the U.S. and Amtrak.

“From day one of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have committed ourselves to making rail safer for all Americas, and since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have made unprecedented investments to modernize and improve America’s rail networks,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “Today’s grants are another example of the Biden-Harris Administration reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America’s rail network and delivering for the American people, helping people in communities big and small get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, and workplaces safely and without delays.”

Accidents at grade crossings are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in the U.S., with more than 2,000 incidents and 200 fatalities occurring at grade crossings each year. Furthermore, blockages resulting from slow moving or stalled trains at crossings may cut off access roads and delay first responders from reaching emergencies. Over the last twelve months, FRA received more than 26,000 complaints of blocked crossings through the agency’s Public Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter.

“This Administration is tackling the issues that Americans face every day, and over the years, we have engaged with residents, community leaders, and stakeholders across the country on the issue of grade crossing safety and blocked crossings,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding we’re announcing today is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens.”

The full list of FY23-24 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program selections can be found here. More information about the grant program is available here.

At the same time, FRA is announcing more than $146 million in funding bolstered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen intercity passenger rail service on six routes across the U.S., administered through FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program. The full list of FY21-24 Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program selections can be found here. More information about the grant program is available here.

View a map that shows corridors in every region of the U.S. identified for future federal investment here.