Feds award millions in CARSI grants to fund grade-crossing improvements

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced $59 million in grant awards have been issued to fund five grade-crossing projects through the department's Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) program.

The CARSI grant recipients and their award amounts are: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, $15 million; NYSDOT and MTA Long Island Railroad, $14.9 million; Southern Florida Regional Transportation Authority, operator of Tri-Rail, $12.9 million; Southern California Regional Rail Authority, operator of Metrolink, $12.5 million; and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and MTA Metro North Railroad, $4.4 million.

Awarded in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration, the grants will be used to fund projects that will:

• install gates and upgrade pavement markings in communities around Philadelphia;

• improve accessibility and make warning system upgrades in Dutchess, Nassau, Putnam and Suffolk counties in New York;

• modernize 25 commuter-rail crossings with improved lighting and other safety features in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties in Florida; and

• add signal features to help drivers move away from the track before a train arrives at a crossing in Ventura County, California.

"FRA is committed to investing in projects that will improve safety in communities across the country," said FRA Administrator Amit Bose in a press release.

The CARSI competitive grant allocations consist of two rounds. In January 2021, USDOT awarded five grants totaling $40.2 million for CARSI Round One projects.