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Additional Resources

Various training opportunities and resources are provided for applicants and recipients. These resources help to ensure that eligible applicants understand how to apply for grants and recipients understand how to properly manage grant funds with support and guidance from FRA staff.  Available resources are highlighted below. 

Railroad Capital Project Guidance 

The Railroad Capital Project Guidance provides guidance on the development and implementation of railroad capital projects that may be funded, in whole or in part, by FRA. FRA’s goal for this guidance is to assist Project Sponsors in 1) developing effective and complete capital projects, and 2) enhancing the management of capital projects to meet schedules and budgets.  

FRA Environment Website 

The Environment section on FRA’s website provides details on FRA’s environmental procedures and other NEPA-related information, which grantees may use for environmental compliance purposes.

FRA has prepared a worksheet to assist Project Sponsors in assessing project eligibility for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Actions that are typically eligible for a CE are listed in Section 4 of FRA’s 1999 Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, which was updated in 2013. FRA’s Environmental Impacts and Related Procedures guidance was published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2018.

Grant Application Forms 

Forms needed for the electronic application process can be accessed via Grants.gov or below:

FRA Training & Guidance Website 

The Training & Guidance section on FRA’s website provides information on overseeing grant projects, as well as links to the Railroad 101 Videos, Rail Program Delivery Meetings, Monitoring Procedures, Capital Cost Estimating Guidance, and FRA Rail Program Delivery Video Series

FRA Buy America Website 

The Buy America section on FRA’s website provides information to grantees about the Buy America provision of 49 USC § 24405(a) and its waiver requests.  Grantees may also access a webinar presentation and FAQs on Buy America that outline procedures on how to apply this provision. 

Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs 

The Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs document is intended to provide applicants to USDOT’s discretionary grant programs with guidance on completing a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for submission as part of their application. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Rail Improvement Grant Conditions under 49 U.S.C. § 22905(c)(1) 

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document is intended to assist applicants for FRA grant programs that are subject to the requirements of 49 U.S.C. § 22905(c)(1), as well as railroads who own rights-of-way that will be used in projects funded by these programs. 

FRA Locomotive Emissions Comparison Tool  

A resource for estimating emission reductions from the implementation of an FRA-funded project to replace diesel engines with newer versions or with alternative fuel engines.  

Justice40 Rail Explorer 

The Justice40 Rail Explorer tool is an interactive web application that combines data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer, the North American Rail Network (NARN), the FRA Grade Crossing Inventory, the 2020 Census, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The tool allows users to understand rail infrastructure and potential improvement projects in the context of disadvantaged communities. The purpose of the Justice40 Rail Explorer is to facilitate an understanding of how rail infrastructure intersects with communities and foster communication of the benefits of potential rail investments to those communities. 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics Rural Funding Eligibility Tool 

The definition of “rural” and “non-rural” varies across USDOT. Use the  Rural Eligibility tool to explore areas eligible for rural funding. 

FRA Safety GIS Map 

The FRA Safety Map is an interactive map that outlines rail networks for Class I railroad, passenger rail, commuter rail, and Amtrak. Users can manipulate data to view maps by topography or street view and add additional data layers like freight stations, grade crossings, and mileposts.   

FRA Crossing Inventory Data Search 

Use the FRA Crossing Inventory Data search box below to access reports that query and download FRA Safety Data on the Crossing Inventory, including location of crossings, safety warning devices, and quiet zone crossings. Additionally, data on Railroad Operations, including train miles, passengers transported, and employee hours worked, is available here.  

Grant Readiness Checklist 

The Grant Readiness Checklist lists grant-related terms to support grant application development.

Grants.gov Learning Center 

Listed below are training and resources that the Grants.gov Learning Center provides on the Federal grants lifecycle, policies on grants management, and profiles on grant-making agencies:

GrantSolutions Web Training 

FRA uses GrantSolutions as its grants management system, which offers Recipient GMM Training Resources with various training videos on Pre-Award Activities and Post Award Activities.

FY2022-26 USDOT Strategic Plan 

The Fiscal Year 2022-2026 Strategic Plan establishes the U.S. Department of Transportation’s strategic goals and objectives. This roadmap for transformative investments will modernize the nation’s infrastructure to deliver safer, cleaner, and more equitable transportation systems.