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

  • November 11, 2015
    CRASH Predicts ‘unpredictable’ in traffic incidents
    Road crashes are not as random as they may appear and analysing data can reveal patterns that can help various authorities target their resources more accurately. David Crawford reports. Figures from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that in 2013 there were 32,719 people killed on American roads and 2.31 million injured. While these form part of an overall 25% drop over the decade from 2004, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx continues to stress that reaching the procl
  • July 24, 2012
    Driving forward cooperative intersection safety applications
    Gregory Davis, FHWA, John Harding, NHTSA, and Mike Schagrin, ITS Joint Program Office (RITA) chart the course for cooperative intersection safety applications being pursued as part of the IntelliDrive programme. Crashes at intersections accounted for 8,703 highway fatalities in the US in 2008. Research and development is moving forward on IntelliDriveSM safety applications designed to help drivers avoid intersection accidents. These new safety systems could substantially drive down the highway death and inj
  • April 14, 2020
    USDoT rolls out $25bn coronavirus response
    The US Department of Transportation (USDoT) is rolling out $25 billion in funding for public transit services, which have been hit hard by Covid-19.
  • August 2, 2013
    Pennsylvania transportation cut ‘would jeopardise local jobs’
    Cutting highway and bridge work by 25 per cent in any given year, and then sustaining it in the years ahead, would cost Pennsylvania US$1.25 billion in lost economic activity over a five-year period and put as many as 9,600 jobs permanently at risk, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) chief economist told state lawmakers at a recent hearing. Dr Alison Premo Black was invited to testify before the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation committee based on a report she authored on beh