Secretary Chao announces appointment of Matt Sturges as FRA Deputy Administrator

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that Mathew M. Sturges has been appointed Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).       

Before joining FRA, Sturges was Majority Staff...

Federal Railroad Administration Announces Stakeholder Outreach Seminars: Focus on Regulatory Changes to Drug and Alcohol Testing and Railroad Employee Training Rules

WASHINGTON - The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it is holding three stakeholder educational seminars to discuss two FRA regulations.  Specifically, the day long sessions will focus on June 2017 amendments to 49 CFR Part 219 - Control of Alcohol and Drug...

FRA Issues $250 Million Notice of Funding Opportunity for PTC Projects

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $250 million in Positive Train Control (PTC) Systems Grants.

“These funds are part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to...

FRA Hosts Railroad Symposium on PTC’s Statutory Requirements (2)

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it is hosting a webinar on Monday, June 4, to aid eligible entities seeking funding for positive train control (PTC) system deployment under a recently issued $250 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO...

FRA Hosts Railroad Symposium on PTC’s Statutory Requirements

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced its first-ever positive train control (PTC) symposium.  The symposium will be held on June 15, 2018, in Washington, DC, and is intended to bring together FRA’s PTC experts...

FRA Issues $500,000 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Railroad Safety State Participation Pilot Grant Program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $500,000 in state grants under the Railroad Safety State Participation Pilot Grant Program, made available by the Consolidated...

FRA Hosts Railroads at PTC System Field Testing Meeting - Second of three PTC symposiums focuses on interoperability

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced today the second of three positive train control (PTC) symposiums for the 41 railroads congressionally mandated to implement PTC systems. 

The day-long symposium...

FRA Issues $1.26 Million for Rail Capital Projects

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced $1.26 million for Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) Grants to fund rail capital projects in Alaska and Wyoming. Funding is made available by the Consolidated Appropriations...

FRA Publishes Railroads’ Quarter 2 PTC Data

Editors Note: The nine at-risk railroads own or control approximately 665 route miles that are subject to the statutory mandate, which is approximately 1.1 percent of the route miles NOT 11 percent as previously reported. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of...

FRA Awards More Than $200 Million for PTC Implementation

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today awarded $203,698,298 in grant funding for 28 projects in 15 states to assist with the deployment of positive train control (PTC) systems. 

 “These $200 million in grants will help the railroads continue to...