The investment comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is administered through the FRA's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
The selected projects should improve rail safety, reliability, and resilience. They cover a range of enhancements, including track upgrades, bridge replacements, expansion of rail connections at ports, and the addition of modern locomotives. The CRISI Program prioritizes smaller, short line railroads that are essential to the American economy and regional supply chains.
Key projects receiving funding include:
- Illinois: Over USD 157 million will support the Springfield Rail Improvements Project. This initiative will consolidate Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern corridors into a single multitrack corridor through Springfield. The project includes track improvements, new grade crossing separations, and the construction of a Multimodal Transportation Center to better connect passenger rail with local and intercity bus services.
- North Carolina: More than USD 105.5 million is allocated to the North Carolina Railroad Company's project to enhance the capacity of the NC-Line. Upgrades involve adding over five miles of sidings, reconstructing up to 69 miles of track, eliminating a grade crossing, and improving track geometry. These improvements are expected to increase on-time performance for existing Amtrak routes and accommodate additional passenger trains.
- Amtrak Partnership: A grant exceeding USD 14 million will fund a 36-month Mechanical Craft Workforce Development Apprenticeship Training Program. The program aims to build a skilled workforce for maintaining Amtrak's equipment fleet. Training will be offered in locations including Beech Grove, Indiana; Wilmington, Delaware; Washington, D.C.; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California.
- Georgia: Over USD 26.5 million is designated for the Colonel's Island Rail Improvements Project in Brunswick. In partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority, the project will enhance the Myd Harris Yard and construct a new South Side Rail Yard at the Colonel’s Island Terminal. The enhancements are expected to facilitate the movement of automotive shipments by rail, reducing reliance on trucking.
- Arizona: More than USD 21.6 million will go toward the Eastern Arizona Rail Safety, Efficiency, and Resiliency Project. This project involves rehabilitating approximately 34 miles of track, replacing three aging timber bridges, installing two emergency crossings, clearing brush within rights-of-way, and retrofitting two tank cars for firefighting purposes.
- Michigan: An investment of over USD 67 million will fund the Detroit RECHARGED initiative. The project focuses on improving and expanding the Livernois Intermodal Facility by installing approximately 17,200 feet of new track, upgrading paving, and replacing diesel gantry cranes with hybrid and fully electric models. The enhancements aim to improve service performance and reduce environmental impacts.
This series of investments represents one of the most significant commitments to American rail infrastructure in over half a century. The funded projects are expected to strengthen supply chains, reduce shipping costs, and lower pollution levels, benefiting both freight and passenger rail networks across the country.
