Announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has selected 50 projects in 29 states to receive $320.6 million in competitive grant funding under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. This includes over $14 million for five projects in Texas. The projects selected include a wide variety of railroad investments that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight and intercity passenger service.
“This $320.6 million federal investment will upgrade U.S. rail infrastructure and enhance rail safety in communities across America,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
Nine of the projects were selected to specifically address safety at highway-rail grade crossings, and deter illegal trespassing, which is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in America. Other projects expand, upgrade, or rehabilitate railroad track, switches, yard, and station facilities to increase performance and service delivery.
The following projects were selected in Texas:
Texas – Henderson Overton Branch Rail Line Rehab and Train Siding Improvement (Opportunity Zone)
Up to $8,480,323
Blacklands Railroad, Inc.
This funding will help improve the safety and reliability of track owned by Rusk County Rural Rail District and operated by the Blacklands Railroad in Rusk County, Texas. Installs new railroad ties to refurbish approximately 13.7 miles of rail between Overton and Henderson; construct three interchange sidings with Union Pacific at Overton; construct one unit train siding at Henderson; and purchase equipment including locomotives, crew cars, and high-railers. Rehabilitation of the line allows for an increase of freight rail speed from 10 m.p.h. to 25 m.p.h., and construction of the sidings will increase operational efficiency and lower operating costs by reducing operating hours by 6 hours every day.
Texas – Harwood Interchange Improvement Project
Up to $2,223,768
Texas Gonzales and Northern Railway
This funding will help improve the Texas, Gonzales, and Northern Railway’s (TXGN) interchange point with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) at Harwood, Texas. Improves approximately 9,000 feet of track; builds a new siding parallel to the TXGN’s mainline running south from the interchange along with associated switch improvements; improves road access to the interchange area; and replaces two small wood trestle railroad bridges with concrete culverts. Extending the siding allows TXGN to accommodate UPRR’s longer trains and the bridge upgrades will allow TXGN to handle 286,000 pound rail carloads.
Texas – Capital Metro Truss & Deck Girder Replacement
Up to $2,315,570
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
This investment will help replace truss and deck girder spans for an approximately 100-year old railroad bridge along Capital Metro’s East Subdivision short-line railroad over Walnut Creek in Austin, Texas. Improves related walkways and handrails, bridge pier and abutment bearings, new bridge ties, and track surface.
Texas – Grade Crossing Improvements at FM 1660S
Up to $1,451,250
Texas Department of Transportation
This funding will help improve railroad grade crossing intersection U.S. 79 and FM 1660 S in the city of Hutto, Texas. Constructs a median to prevent or limit the opportunity for drivers to circumnavigate the railroad gates and sidewalks to safely channel pedestrians toward a nearby elementary school. Improves the crossing profile to reduce the opportunity for low ground clearance vehicles to become immobilized. Enhances the railroad preemption to safely clear motorists off the crossing intersection prior to trains approaching.
Texas – Improving the Safety At Highway Railroad Grade Crossings Located In Rural Areas Using UAV-CRP Data Analysis
Up to $241,546
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
This funding will help implement drone-technology and three-dimensional mapping to study passive grade crossings in rural areas and determine if unsafe conditions exist for vehicle traffic, performed by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station located in College Station, TX.
“We remain committed to helping address pressing transportation capital needs, particularly in rural areas,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory. “I am pleased that so many high-quality applications were submitted for worthwhile investments by the FRA,” Batory added.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act authorized the CRISI Program to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail systems. Rural projects, which have a minimum 25 percent funding requirement under the CRISI Program, received over 60 percent of the funds. Of the 50 projects that were awarded grants, 32 are located in Opportunity Zones, which were created to revitalize economically distressed communities using private investments. Since 2017, this Administration has awarded over $1.2 billion through the CRISI program to improve rail infrastructure.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) soliciting applications for this round of CRISI Program grant funding was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2020. FRA subsequently provided web-based training and technical assistance for eligible applicants.
A list of projects selected for FY 2020 CRISI funding can be viewed here.
