FRA Launches New Rail Safety Program

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of $5 million to fund a rail research and development Center of Excellence made possible by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This new program will advance research and development efforts that seek to improve the safety, performance, and sustainability of freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail.

The Center of Excellence is designed as a three-year program. Today’s funding announcement includes $5 million in annual grant funding from Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 and 2023. Another $2.5 million will be made available in FY 2024, subject to the availability of funds, for a total of $7.5 million. Examples of eligible proposals include advances in research, evaluation, education, workforce development, and training efforts related to safety, project delivery, efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability, including advances in rolling stock, grade crossing safety, advanced Positive Train Control, human factors, inspection and remote sensor technologies, rail systems maintenance, and operational reliability, among others.

Eligible applicants include those with strong past performance related to rail research, education, and workforce development activities. This includes developing transformative research, incorporating climate and clean energy priorities in research, a demonstrated ability to achieve workforce development goals, Minority Serving Institution (MSI)/ Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU)/ Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) participation, a commitment to underrepresented/underserved communities and economic equity, and the involvement of public and private sector passenger and freight railroads. The Center of Excellence will fund up to 50 percent of the cost of selected proposals. The NOFO, which contains detailed information about the grant application process, is on public inspection in the Federal Register here.

-via Press Release

This article was posted on: May 2, 2023