WASHINGTON D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced that 122 projects across 41 states and the District of Columbia will receive funding through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program. The selected projects, unveiled on Tuesday, will collectively benefit from over $2.4 billion in federal investment.

"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," stated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a press release. "Each project advances a future where our supply chains are stronger, passenger rail more accessible, and freight movement safer and more efficient."

The majority of the grants are designated for direct infrastructure work or the planning of future infrastructure initiatives. However, some funding will also support job training and apprenticeship programs, research endeavors, and collaborations with academic institutions.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose commented that these grants are instrumental in "reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America’s rail network and delivering the world-class rail our citizens deserve."

These awards necessitate a non-federal matching contribution, typically amounting to 20% of the grant's value, usually provided by the recipient organization.

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, a long-standing advocate for the CRISI program, expressed its satisfaction that 81 of the funded projects involve short line railroads or their partners, accounting for $1.29 billion of the total grant money.