FRA issues funding notice for state-of-good-repair projects

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $272 million in grants under the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program.

The NOFO will help fund capital projects to repair, replace or rehabilitate publicly owned railroad assets, as well as to improve intercity passenger-rail performance, FRA officials said in a press release.

Eligible projects include those that replace existing assets in-kind; replace existing assets with those that increase capacity or provide a higher level of service; or replace those that ensure existing assets maintain service while being brought into a state of good repair.

"It is important for rail infrastructure owners and operators to plan for the maintenance and replacement of their assets," said FRA Administrator Ronald Batory. "The department particularly recognizes the opportunity to reduce and enhance safety through this grant program."

Applications for project funding must be submitted via Grants.gov and are due by 5 p.m. EST March 18, 2019. The FRA plans to provide web-based training and technical assistances to answer applicants' questions.

Federal funds awarded under this NOFO must not exceed 80 percent of a project's total cost. The required 20 percent non-federal share may be composed of public- or private-sector funding, or both.

In addition, selection preference will be given to projects where Amtrak is not the sole applicant; multiple applicants submit applications jointly; the proposed federal share of the total project costs does not exceed 50 percent; non-federal shares consist of funding from multiple sources, including private sources; and applications indicate strong project readiness.

Moreover, the U.S. Department of Transportation will consider how well the project aligns with its priorities, FRA officials said.