The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) reauthorized the nation’s surface transportation programs for five years and made record public infrastructure investments. It also recognized rail's potential role in building a more resilient and sustainable infrastructure network through new and expanded funding opportunities. This page is intended to be a resource on federal rail grant programs for state, county, and local leaders interested in pursuing projects across Texas.
Funding Breakdown
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding levels over five years for rail-related grants. Authorized funding requires additional congressional appropriation of funds.
Image courtesy of GoRail.org
Additional Resources
GoRail in collaboration with the Association of American Railroads has created a dedicated grant hub with the latest grant news, funding breakdowns, eligible projects, matching information, and more that can be found here.
Ready to pursue an application? Look at GoRail's "Grant Readiness Checklist" or take their "Grant Project Survey" at the provided links.
Does your community have a problematic grade crossing? Look at GoRail's crossing grant requirements page and check out AAR's occupied crossing fact sheet.
Follow this link to see the Federal Railroad Administration's web accident prediction system tool.
Watch this YouTube video of the Federal Railroad Administrations expanded grant application process.
Available Grants
NEW!: FY25-26 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program (MPDG)
Combines the INFRA, MEGA, and Rural grant programs (see below) into one Notice, though applicants can apply for one, two, or three of the grants. The NOFO combines FY25 and FY26 funding, for a total of $5.1 billion in funding available (INFRA - $2.7 billion, MEGA - $1.7 billion, and Rural - $780 million).
Applications are due by May 6. More information can be found here.
NEW! FY23-24 Consolidated Rail and Infrastructure Safety Improvements Grant (CRISI)
$10 billion has been set aside for expanded CRISI grants, $5 billion of which much be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Federal Railroad Administration. Eligible grantees include public entities like counties, states, and cities but also include Class II and Class III railroads, rail-related transportation research boards and university transportation centers, and certain non-profits related to railroads as well.
The total combined funding available under the FY23-24 NOFO is just under $2.5 billion.
Grant Application is now open here.
2023 Selections Announced 9/25/23
Grade Crossing Elimination Program
$5.5 billion has been set aside for this program, $3 billion of which much be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Federal Railroad Administration. Eligible grantees include public entities like counties, states, tribes, port authorities, and metro planning entities.
FY22 Selections Announced 6/15/23
FY23-24 Combined NOFO Expected May 2024
National Culvert Removal and Restoration Grant
$5 billion has been set aside for this program, $4 billion of which must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Federal Highway Administration. Eligible grantees include public entities like a state, a unit of local government or a tribal entity.
FY22 Deadline Passed 2/7/23
Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA)
$14 billion has been set aside for this program, of which $10.8 billion must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Secretary of the Office of Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure Policy. Eligible grantees include states, metro planning organizations of urban areas with over 200,000 in population, local governments like cities and counties, special purpose districts with transportation functions, port authorities, tribal governments, and certain multi-state corridor associations and consortiums.
FY23 Deadline Passed 8/21/23
Federal-State Partnerships for Intercity Passenger Rail
$42.5 billion has been set aside for this program, of which $7.5 billion must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Federal Railroad Administration. Eligible grantees include states or groups of states, interstate compacts, agencies/publicly chartered authorities established by a state or group of states, local governments like counties and cities, Amtrak, and tribal governments. Eligible projects generally provide capital funding to reduce the state of good repair backlog, improve performance, or expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service.
FY24 NEC NOFO Expected April 2024; FY24 National NOFO Expected October 2024
National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA)
$15 billion has been set aside for this program, of which $10 billion must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Secretary of the Office of Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure Policy. Eligible grantees include states, local governments like counties and cities, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and tribes.
FY23 Deadline Passed 8/21/23
Port Infrastructure Development Grant
$2.3 billion has been set aside for this program, of which $10.8billion must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Maritime Administration. Eligible grantees include states, local governments like counties and cities, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and tribes.
2023 Awardees announced Nov. 3, 2023
FY23 Deadline Passed 4/28/23
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
$15 billion has been set aside for this program, of which $7.5 billion must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Secretary of the Office of Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure Policy. Eligible grantees include states, local governments like counties and cities, port authorities, transit agencies, U.S. territories, and tribes.
FY23 NOFO Deadline Passed 2/28/24
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART)
$1 billion has been set aside for this program, of which $500 million must be authorized by the 2023-2024 Congress. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Secretary of the Office of Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure Policy. Eligible grantees include states, local governments like counties and cities, transit agencies, public toll authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and tribes.
FY23 NOFO Announced 8/14/23; Deadline 10/10/23
Rural Surface Transportation Grant
$2 billion has been set aside for this program and no further appropriation is needed to fully fund this section. This is a discretionary grant managed by the Secretary of the Office of Multimodal Freight and Infrastructure Policy. Eligible grantees include states, local governments like counties and cities, regional transportation planning organizations, and tribes.
FY23 Deadline Passed 8/21/23
Clean Ports Program Zero Emissions Technology Competition
The grant program provides $3 billion for equipment and infrastructure to reduce emissions at U.S. ports. Railroads and other private entities are eligible for the grant as long as they apply in partnership with a Port Authority or other eligible government entity and own, operate, or use the facilities and equipment of a port.
FY23 Applications Due 5/28/24. NOFO can be found here.
Note: EPA has requested that anyone who intends to submit an application submit an optional “Notice of Intent to Apply” by March 28.
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