The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced today that it has invested more than $27.4 million in new rail grant funding in South Carolina. Nationally, more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is being invested in 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. These projects will make rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, getting goods and people where they need to be quickly with fewer disruptions, lower shipping costs and less pollution.
Administered through FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, grants being announced will benefit every region of the country, especially rural communities. Projects in this round of selections reflect the broad array of rail safety and service improvements eligible under this program, such as upgrading track, replacing or rehabilitating aging bridges, expanding rail connections at ports, adding modern locomotives to fleets, and more. The CRISI Program is also the only federal grant program prioritizing smaller, short line railroads vital to the American economy and regional supply chains.
This announcement is part of a series of investments the Biden-Harris Administration has made in nearly 300 rail projects and dozens of emerging passenger rail corridors across the country through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded FRA grant programs. This marks the most significant investment in American rail in more than 50 years.
“Today’s investments in our rail systems reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more resilient transportation network,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re funding rail infrastructure projects that create jobs and expand workforce development, reduce costs for consumers, and directly benefit communities across the country. Each project advances a future where our supply chains are stronger, passenger rail more accessible, and freight movement safer and more efficient.”
Selected CRISI projects this round include:
- Piedmont Regional Rail Capacity Improvement Project (Up to $27,423,985) in Chester County
The proposed project was selected for Project Development, Final Design, right-of-way acquisition and Construction and includes activities for various track and signal improvements, as well as the procurement of track maintenance equipment, for the Lancaster and Chester Railroad. The project aligns with the selection criteria by improving effects on safety and system and service performance by reducing congestion between short line and Class I freight trains operating along the corridor and increasing the reliability of existing short line equipment. Lancaster and Chester Railroad and Norfolk Southern will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
The full list of Fiscal Year 2023 and 2024 CRISI project selections can be found here. Additional information on FRA’s CRISI Program is also available here.