USDOT opens CRISI and NEC rail grant applications

Federal rail grant applications are now open for two U.S. Department of Transportation programs for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

They cover $2.04 billion in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grants and $4.7 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grants for the Northeast Corridor.

Applications for the Northeast Corridor grants are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Separately, CRISI applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on June 22.

Federal rail grant applications: deadlines and scope

Since 2017, the Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI grant program has provided almost $6 billion for infrastructure projects involving short lines, regional railroads, and passenger rail operations. It has become a significant source of funding for those projects. Full information on this year’s Notice of Funding Opportunity, including eligibility requirements and other details, is available here.

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According to the DOT press release, the agency will support projects that:

• Reduce congestion.
• Jump-start ridership growth on passenger railroads.
• Improve regional railroad infrastructure.
• Develop safety programs to prevent trespassing and reduce injuries and fatalities.

At last week’s American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association conference, FRA Administrator David Fink said the CRISI funding notice was about to be released. He also said one was still to come for the Railroad Crossing Elimination program.

“I strongly encourage all eligible entries with critical needs to submit competitive applications,” Fink said, “keeping in mind that CRISI and RCE are both chronically oversubscribed. In other words, we receive applications which seek considerably more funding than Congress makes available.”

Additional background on the CRISI program is available here.

Northeast Corridor grants target major stations

The Partnership-NEC program is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which expires this year. It is intended to address a backlog of state-of-good-repair projects, improve performance, and expand or establish passenger service on the Northeast Corridor.

DOT said the first round of applications will focus on high-priority major station projects. Those projects include New York Penn Station and Washington Union Station. To qualify, a project must be included in the 2026 version of the NEC Project Inventory, available here.

More on the Federal-State Partnership program is available here.

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