FRA awards eight grants totaling $21.2 million

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded eight grants totaling more than $21.2 million that invest in grade-crossing safety, Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation and passenger rail.

 

FRA awarded the grants as part of a Notice of Funding Availability it issued in July 2014 to distribute new FY14 Omnibus funding, as well as unobligated funds from the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

“These projects are examples of the positive work we could do if we had predictable, dedicated funding for rail,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The Grow America Act is a blueprint for continued economic growth that will help us further strengthen rail’s safety record, close the nation’s infrastructure deficit and modernize the nation’s freight and passenger rail network.”

The eight grants were awarded in states across the country and feature a wide array of projects.

As it pertains to grade-crossing safety, the California Department of Transportation will receive $2,236,550 for its Pacific Surfliner Chesterfield Drive Crossing Improvements and the Illinois Department of Transportation will see $2,000,000 for its Springfield, Ill., Ash Street Underpass.

Positive Train Control improvements will include $432,000 for Transportation Technology Center, Inc.’s PTC Implementation Project Interoperable Train Control Messaging Security; $2,640,000 for Amtrak’s Wireless Communication and Key Management Implementation; $4,992,799 for ARINC Inc.’s Implementation of PTC Shared Network and User Support and $3,000,000 for Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro North Hudson Line PTC.

As it pertains to passenger rail planning, the California Department of Transportation will see $2,982,050 for its Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Corridor Investment Plan and the Illinois Department of Transportation will use $3,000,000 for its Chicago Union Station Terminal Planning Study.

“Enhancing grade-crossing safety, investing in the deployment of PTC and funding planning efforts are investments that will make our rail network safer, more reliable and efficient,” said Acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg. “Continuous investment in rail infrastructure will enable us to meet the growing demand for rail and to keep people living along rail lines safe.”

 

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