FRA issues rail grants to Alaska, Wyoming; South Dakota misses out
Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued $1.26 million for rail capital projects in Alaska and Wyoming. The funds are made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017.
The funds are dispersed through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program and the Restoration and Enhancement Grants program. FRA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in February for the federal money, of which $2.2 million is set aside for Special Transportation Circumstances and is directed to grants for freight or intercity passenger rail capital projects in Alaska, Wyoming and South Dakota.
FRA explains that the Wyoming project eligible for the funding must be a freight rail capital project on a state rail plan that provides public benefits, and the Alaska project must also be a freight or passenger rail-related capital project. Alaska will use the $277,400 for the Terminal Wireless Communications Positive Train Control project while Wyoming will use the $985,500 for the Greater Junction Railroad Rehabilitation Project.
“The funding will go a long way to addressing freight and passenger rail-related capital project needs in rural communities,” said FRA Administrator Ron Batory.
South Dakota had $978,200 set aside, but the state did not submit an application in response to the NOFO. FRA said the state remains eligible to apply for the funding in a future NOFO.
