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The US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced more than $2.4 billion in funding for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, DC.
Funding will support projects that increase the reliability, safety, and efficiency of the nation’s rail system. The majority of the $2.4 billion is earmarked for rail infrastructure projects. However, funds will also go to workforce development and training programs, such as apprenticeships and university partnerships.
According to an FRA statement last week, projects include bridge replacement, track upgrades, the addition of modern locomotives, and many other projects across the US. The US has around 140,000 miles of freight railway and 21,000 miles of passenger rail, according to the Association of American Railroads.
FRA Administrator Amit Bose said in a statement that through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, “FRA is investing more than ever in communities nationwide, reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America’s rail network and delivering the world-class rail our citizens deserve.”
Bose added that the “grants will enhance rail safety, better connect towns, cities, and ports, introduce more environmentally friendly locomotives, support the current rail workforce, and provide workforce development opportunities essential to the future of our industry and the national economy.”
The US freight network is owned by private organizations responsible for their maintenance and improvement projects. Image: US Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration
A sample of projects selected for the round of funding include:
Illinois: $157 million was allocated for Springfield Rail Improvements, combining Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern corridors into one multitrack corridor. Funds will also go toward constructing a new Multimodal Transportation Center to connect public transportation options such as passenger rail with local and intercity buses.
North Carolina: $105.5 million is designated for capacity improvements to enhance freight and passenger rail services. Upgrades include reconstructing up to 69 miles of track, eliminating one grade crossing, and improving track geometry.
Georgia: $26.5 million invested in Colonel’s Island Rail Improvements, focusing on boosting automotive shipments by rail instead of truck, which is crucial for the automotive industry in the region.
Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick, Georgia. Image: Georgia Ports Authority
Michigan: $67 million earmarked for the Detroit RECHARGED project, which involves installing around 17,200 feet of new track, paving upgrades, and replacing diesel gantry cranes with new hybrid and fully electric gantry cranes in Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan.
Arizona: $21.6 million for the Eastern Arizona Rail Safety Project will improve 34 miles of track, replace three timber bridges, and build two emergency crossings.
Amtrak passenger rail: $14 million will help implement a training program to build skilled mechanical labor for the Amtrak fleet.
Service map of US passenger rail. Image: Amtrak
According to the FRA statement, the financial investment is the “most significant investment in American rail in more than 50 years. “
A comparison between US freight and passenger rail systems and some of their obstacles to modernization can be found in this article by Paolo Confino on forbes.com
The FRA projects are administered through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, the only federal grant program prioritizes smaller, short-line rails critical to the US economy and regional supply chains.
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