CRISI Grant: Over $2 Billion for Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (FY 2025-2026)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced over $2.04 billion in funding through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This is one of the largest competitive rail grant programs in the country, funding projects that improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability across the United States.

With approximately 130 awards expected and no minimum or maximum award thresholds, CRISI offers funding for everything from grade crossing improvements to major rail corridor construction projects.

Program Overview

The CRISI Program is authorized under 49 U.S.C. § 22907 and invests in a wide range of projects to:

• Improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability
• Mitigate congestion at intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints
• Support more efficient travel and goods movement
• Enhance multi-modal connections

Funding comes from three sources: the FY 2025 and 2026 Appropriations, and the FY 2025-2026 advance appropriations from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Special Funding Set-Asides

Within the $2.04 billion total, FRA has designated specific set-asides:

• Rural Set-Aside: At least $532.5 million (25%) is reserved for projects located in Rural Areas. A project qualifies as rural if more than 50% of its location is in a Rural Area based on geospatial data.
• Special Transportation Circumstances: $66 million for projects addressing unique transportation challenges
• Congressionally Directed Community Projects: $87.4 million earmarked for specific projects

Who Can Apply

CRISI has one of the broadest eligibility pools of any federal rail program. Eligible applicants include:

1. States (including the District of Columbia)
2. Groups of States and Interstate Compacts
3. Public agencies or publicly chartered authorities established by one or more States
4. Political subdivisions of a State (counties, cities, townships)
5. Amtrak or other intercity rail passenger carriers
6. Class II and Class III railroads (including holding companies)
7. Associations representing Class II/III railroads
8. Federally recognized Indian Tribes
9. Rail carriers or equipment manufacturers partnered with a public entity
10. The Transportation Research Board and its contractors
11. University transportation centers engaged in rail research
12. Non-profit labor organizations representing rail employees

Eligible Project Types

CRISI funds both capital and non-capital projects across a broad range of categories:

Capital Projects

• Safety Technology: Deployment of positive train control (PTC) and rail integrity inspection systems
• Grade Crossing Improvements: Installation or improvement of grade separations, railroad crossing signals, gates, highway traffic signalization, and roadway improvements to reduce risk
• Rail Line Relocation: Relocating or improving rail lines
• Short-Line and Regional Infrastructure: Improving short-line or regional railroad infrastructure
• Congestion and Ridership: Capital projects to address congestion and facilitate ridership growth on heavily traveled corridors
• Multi-Modal Connections: Projects enhancing service integration between rail and other transportation modes, including intercity bus and commercial air service
• Locomotive Rehabilitation: Rehabilitating, remanufacturing, or procuring locomotives that result in significant emissions reductions
• Hazardous Materials Plans: Preparing emergency plans for communities through which hazardous materials are transported by rail

Non-Capital Projects

• Workforce development and training activities
• Safety program development and implementation
• Trespassing prevention measures
• Research, development, and testing to advance innovative rail projects
• Regional rail and corridor service development plans

Project Lifecycle Stages

Applicants must align capital projects with FRA's Lifecycle Stages:

1. Systems Planning
2. Project Planning
3. Project Development
4. Final Design
5. Construction

FRA may fund projects in phases by lifecycle stage. After completing one phase, FRA will evaluate compliance before advancing to the next. Operation activities are not eligible under CRISI.

Cost Sharing Requirements

The federal share of total project costs may not exceed 80 percent. This means applicants must provide at least a 20% non-federal match. Key cost-sharing details:

• Applicants must identify the source(s) of their non-federal share
• Non-federal funds must be clearly reflected as part of the Total Project Cost
• Applicants should submit evidence of secured non-federal and other federal funding
• In-kind contributions may count if they meet 2 CFR 200.306 requirements

FRA gives preference to projects where the federal share does not exceed 50%, so applicants with stronger local match may have a competitive advantage.

Application Requirements

The Project Narrative may not exceed 25 pages (excluding cover pages, table of contents, tables, and supporting documentation). Required elements include:

1. Cover Page: Project title, applicant name, funding amounts, project location, lifecycle stages, and railroad information
2. Project Summary: 4-6 sentence summary explaining challenges and intended outcomes
3. Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses: Detailed project budget by lifecycle stage and funding source
4. Applicant Eligibility Criteria: How you meet the eligibility requirements
5. Project Eligibility Criteria: How the proposed project meets eligible project types
6. Detailed Project Description: Background, railroad operations summary, expected outcomes, and statement of work
7. Project Location: Geospatial data, maps, and Congressional districts
8. Evaluation and Selection Criteria: How your project meets project readiness, technical merit, and project benefits criteria
9. Project Implementation and Management: Project management arrangements and risk mitigation

Additional required documents include SF 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA).

Evaluation Criteria

FRA evaluates applications on three criteria:

1. Project Readiness

FRA assesses whether the applicant is prepared and has the capacity to implement the project, including NEPA status, infrastructure agreements, and evidence the project is ready for the proposed lifecycle stage.

2. Technical Merit

FRA evaluates whether the application describes a reasonable approach to achieve expected outcomes, including:

• Technical qualifications of key personnel
• Private sector participation in financing, construction, or operation
• Legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project
• Consistency with State rail plans and DOT planning guidance
• Use of innovative technology and approaches
• Past performance on similar projects

3. Project Benefits

FRA evaluates the Benefit-Cost Analysis and anticipated private and public benefits, including:

• Effects on system and service performance
• Safety, competitiveness, reliability, and resilience
• Efficiencies from improved integration with other modes
• Ability to meet existing or anticipated demand

Selection Preferences

After the merit review, FRA gives preference to projects that:

• Include Final Design and Construction lifecycle stages
• Benefit short-line railroad infrastructure and equipment
• Propose a federal share of 50% or less of total project costs
• Maximize net benefits based on the Benefit-Cost Analysis

FRA is also especially interested in projects that improve existing transportation infrastructure with high failure costs (like bridges), advance economic competitiveness through energy and freight initiatives, enhance the family travel experience at passenger rail stations, and support innovative transportation technologies.

Tips for a Strong Application

1. Maximize your local match: Projects with a federal share at or below 50% receive selection preference. Even exceeding the 20% minimum strengthens your application.
2. Advance your project through lifecycle stages: Projects at Final Design or Construction stages are preferred. Complete as much preliminary work as possible before applying.
3. Complete NEPA early: Environmental review status is a key factor in project readiness. Having a categorical exclusion, completed EA, or EIS will help significantly.
4. Include a strong Benefit-Cost Analysis: Use standardized DOT guidance for your BCA. Quantify safety benefits, reduced delays, emissions reductions, and economic impacts.
5. Coordinate with host railroads: Secure agreements with infrastructure owners and impacted railroads before applying. FRA evaluates these partnerships as part of readiness.
6. Highlight rural impacts: With $532.5 million set aside for rural projects, rural applicants should clearly document their rural designation using geospatial data.
7. Demonstrate short-line benefits: Short-line railroad projects receive selection preference. Emphasize infrastructure upgrades like 286,000-pound railcar standard track improvements.

How to Apply

1. Register on Grants.gov and ensure your organization's SAM.gov registration is active
2. Download the application package from Grants.gov (Opportunity Number: FR-CRS-26-001)
3. Prepare your 25-page Project Narrative following FRA's required outline
4. Complete the Benefit-Cost Analysis using FRA's BCA guidance
5. Complete all required forms (SF 424, budget forms, certifications)
6. Submit via Grants.gov by June 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT

For questions, contact Deborah Kobrin at Deborah.Kobrin@dot.gov or (202) 420-1281.

Related Resources

• Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) FY 2026 Grant
• FTA Ferry Grant Programs: $657 Million for FY 2026
• Complete Guide to Federal Grants

How Avila Can Help

The CRISI application requires a detailed 25-page project narrative, a Benefit-Cost Analysis, and extensive supporting documentation. Avila uses AI to help you quickly identify whether CRISI is the right fit for your project, draft your project narrative to FRA's specifications, and organize your supporting materials. Book a demo to see how Avila can streamline your CRISI application.