Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program

The following entities are eligible applicants for all projects permitted under this notice: 

1. A State (including the District of Columbia). 
2. A group of States. 
3. An Interstate Compact. 
4. A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States. 
5. A political subdivision of a State. 
6. Amtrak or another rail carrier that provides intercity rail passengertransportation (as rail carrier and intercity rail passenger transportation are defined in 49 U.S.C. 24102). 
7. A Class II railroad or Class III railroad, including any holding company of a Class II or Class III railroad (as those terms are defined in 49 U.S.C. 20102). 
8. An association representing one or more railroads described in paragraph (vii). 
9. A Federally recognized Indian Tribe. 
10. Any rail carrier or rail equipment manufacturer in partnership with at least one of the entities described in paragraphs (i) through (v). 
11. The Transportation Research Board and any entity with which it contracts in the development of rail-related research, including cooperative research programs. 
12. A University transportation center engaged in rail-related research. 
13. A non-profit labor organization representing a class or craft of employees of rail carriers or rail carrier contractors.

The following projects are eligible for funding: 

1. Deployment of railroad safety technology, including positive train control (PTC) and rail integrity inspection systems.
2. A capital project as defined in 49 U.S.C. § 22901(2), except that a project shall not be required to be included in a State rail plan developed under 49 U.S.C. chapter 227. 
3. A capital project identified by the Secretary as being necessary to address congestion or safety challenges affecting rail service. 
4. A capital project identified by the Secretary as being necessary to reduce congestion and facilitate ridership growth in intercity passenger rail transportation along heavily traveled rail corridors. 
5. A highway-rail grade crossing improvement project, including installation, repair, or improvement of grade separations, railroad crossing signals, gates, and related technologies, highway traffic signalization, highway lighting and crossing approach signage, roadway improvements such as medians or other barriers, railroad crossing panels and surfaces, and safety engineering improvements to reduce risk in quiet zones or potential quiet zones.
6. A rail line relocation or improvement project. 
7. A capital project to improve short-line or regional railroad infrastructure. 
8. The preparation of regional rail and corridor service development plans and corresponding environmental analyses.
9. Any project that the Secretary considers necessary to enhance multimodal connections or facilitate service integration between rail service and other modes, including between intercity rail passenger transportation and intercity bus service or commercial air service. 
10. The development and implementation of a safety program or institute designed to improve rail safety. The development and implementation of measures to prevent trespassing and reduce associated injuries and fatalities.
11. Any research that the Secretary considers necessary to advance any particular aspect of rail-related capital, operations, or safety improvements. 
12. Workforce development and training activities, coordinated to the extent practicable with the existing local training programs supported by the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Education. 
13. Research, development, and testing to advance and facilitate innovative rail projects, including projects using electromagnetic guideways in an enclosure in a very low-pressure environment. 
14. The preparation of emergency plans for communities through which hazardous materials are transported by rail.