FRA awards CRISI grant for Metrolink track, signal improvements

The Federal Railroad Administration announced a grant award of $10.7 million from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program to fund Metrolink passenger-rail improvements in the Burbank-Anaheim rail corridor in Southern California. 

The grant will partially fund the improvement of tracks and signal controls between Metrolink’s Burbank Airport-South and Glendale stations on the Ventura County and Antelope Valley lines in Los Angeles County. 

The improvements will reduce train congestion and increase on-time performance on track shared with Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight services, Metrolink officials said in a press release.

Nearly 100 passenger and freight trains operate each weekday through Burbank and Glendale, officials said.

The federal award will be matched with state funds.

The CRISI Program designates funds to projects that increase safety, efficiency and reliability of intercity passenger and freight-rail systems.