Skip to main content

FRA makes funding available for positive train control implementation

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is accepting applications for US$25 million in competitive grant funding available to railroads, suppliers, and state and local governments for positive train control (PTC) implementation. The funding is part of the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act that funds the US Department of Transportation. Applications will be accepted until 19 May 2016 and FRA will give preference to projects that would provide the greatest level of p
April 5, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The 324 US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is accepting applications for US$25 million in competitive grant funding available to railroads, suppliers, and state and local governments for positive train control (PTC) implementation.  The funding is part of the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act that funds the US Department of Transportation.

Applications will be accepted until 19 May 2016 and FRA will give preference to projects that would provide the greatest level of public safety benefits.  As part of the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal, FRA requested US$1.25 billion to assist commuter and short line railroads with implementing PTC.

In 2008, Congress mandated PTC implementation on certain railroad main lines where railroads transport poisonous and toxic-by-inhalation materials, or any line where a railroad provides regularly scheduled passenger service.  Last October, Congress extended the original deadline from 31 December 2015 to at least 31 December 2018.

“Positive train control is a long overdue technology that prevents accidents and saves lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.  “These funds will help us get closer to implementing PTC, and I encourage applications that can make these limited dollars go as far as possible.”

“Any Congressional funding and investment to make Positive Train Control active on our nation’s railroad network is a worthwhile investment,” said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg.  “But it will take even more significant funding to achieve this important, life-saving goal.  We look forward to working with Congress to find these resources and encourage railroads to submit strong applications.”
UTC

Related Content

  • January 30, 2015
    Foxx pushes Congress to pass transportation funding
    US transportation secretary Anthony Foxx has called for lawmakers to pass a multi-year infrastructure funding bill, saying the cycle of temporary extensions is killing states' willingness for road and transit projects. It has been ten years since Congress last passed a transportation funding bill of longer than two years. "Last year we sent Congress a comprehensive multiyear proposal, the Grow America Act, which included 350 pages of precise policy prescriptions and substantial funding growth, all foc
  • February 13, 2018
    Trump unveils U.S. infrastructure investment
    U.S. president Donald Trump has announced that he wants Congress to approve $200bn (£144bn) bill, which he said will stimulate another $1.3tn (£9bn) in improvements as part of his plan to fix the country’s infrastructure. One intention of the proposal is to eliminate regulatory barriers and offer more flexibility to transportation projects that are currently required to seek Federal review and approval. $100bn (£72bn) of the proposed bill will create an Incentives Program to spur additional dedicated fund
  • January 10, 2014
    Will interoperability prevent progress?
    David Crawford examines the political and industrial background to the tolling technology debate. Saving the US State of California ‘millions of dollars’ in tolling infrastructure costs by encouraging new technologies is the professed aim of a legislative Bill, SB 242, which is currently moving through the State’s Senate (upper house) process. According to its sponsor, Republican State Senator Mark Wyland, permitting alternatives to the current FasTrak-branded radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based sys
  • January 31, 2013
    LaHood steps down as Transportation Secretary
    US transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that he will not serve a second term in President Obama’s Cabinet. LaHood, one of the few Republicans in Obama’s Cabinet, said he will stay in his position until his successor is confirmed. “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the department, and I am grateful to President Obama for giving me such an extraordinary opportunity,” LaHood said in a statement to Transpiration employees. “As I look back on the past four years, I am proud of what we h